Duo of Australian-born athletes selected for the British and Irish Lions squad, omitting the coach's offspring from the lineup.
Rewritten Article:
England's Maro Itoje beams with pride as he stepped up as the new captain of the British and Irish Lions for their upcoming tour of Australia, announced on Thursday (Friday AEST).
The 30-year-old lock, who only donned the captain's armband for England this season during the Six Nations, guided his side to a commendable second-place finish, falling behind champions France.
Stepping into a new role for the Lions, Itoje will lead the team in three Tests against the Wallabies, selected by head coach Andy Farrell, who stepped in from his day job as Ireland manager.
"It's an extraordinary honor and privilege to be named captain for this Lions tour," said Itoje, taking the stage at London's O2 Arena, where 2,000 fans were present for the first time at a Lions squad announcement. "Thinking about the legendary figures who have held this position before me, it's both remarkable and humbling."
Farrell expressed his confidence in Itoje, stating, "As a two-time tourist (in 2017 and 2021), Maro understands the essence of the Lions, especially the role of the captain in helping the group achieve its goal of winning a Test series this summer."
While Itoje's path to the captaincy received a boost when his chief competitor for the position, Caelan Doris, sustained a shoulder injury during Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton last weekend, there was no room in the 38-man squad for former England captain Owen Farrell.
Owen Farrell, the coach's son, has been barred from representing England after opting to play club rugby outside of the country at Paris-based Racing 92. Struggling with injury issues in France, he was unable to secure a spot on the tour.
"He was in the running," Andy Farrell said of his son. "We feel Owen is still working towards full fitness."
Scotland back Blair Kinghorn, playing for Top 14 and European champions Toulouse, was the lone French player in the squad. Henry Pollock, a 20-year-old Northampton back-row who made his England debut in March, is the latest surprise inclusion to the 137-year-old Lions.
Arriving as a 'bolter' for the Lions, Pollock scored two tries during England's 68-14 victory over Wales in the last round of the Six Nations. His impressive performance has continued, with an outstanding display in Northampton's recent 37-34 victory against Leinster in Dublin.
Scotland's Finn Russell and England's Marcus Smith and Fin Smith will together form the squad's fly-half contingent. England veteran George Ford and Ireland's rising star Sam Prendergast missed their chance to be included in the squad.
Australia-born center Sione Tuipulotu and Aussie-born winger Mack Hansen, both from Scotland, have been selected for the tour. Back row Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams were the only Welsh players included, as Wales has failed to win a Test match since the 2023 World Cup.
"Whether it's cutting the squad down from 55 to 38 or choosing the final players, it's a tremendously tough decision," said Farrell.
The 10-match Lions tour kicks off with a fixture against Argentina in Dublin on June 20th. The first Test against Australia will take place in Brisbane on July 19th, with two additional internationals in Melbourne (July 26th) and Sydney (August 2nd) to follow.
Although the Wallabies have traditionally been considered the easiest side for the Lions to overcome, as they only tour one of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa once every four years, the team has shown significant progress since Joe Schmidt took charge.
Riding on Schmidt's coaching expertise, which includes knowing many Lions players and Andy Farrell himself after a six-year stint as Ireland boss, the Wallabies are poised to present a formidable challenge for the Lions.
- The newly appointed skipper for the British and Irish Lions, Maro Itoje, will lead the team in three Tests against the Wallabies, with the tour news announced on Thursday.
- The 30-year-old lock, Itoje, had previously worn the captain's armband for England during the Six Nations, guiding his side to a second-place finish.
- Despite Itoje's route to the captaincy receiving a boost due to an injury to his main competitor, Caelan Doris, there was no spot for former England captain Owen Farrell in the 38-man squad.
- As the 2023 Lions tour progresses, sports fans will be eagerly anticipating the clash between the British and Irish Lions and the Wallabies in Dubin on June 20th, with the first Test against Australia set to take place in Brisbane on July 19th.
