Star player from Britain and Lions expresses disapproval towards public backlash over Andy Farrell's selection of son Owen for Australia Tour
In the ongoing British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, the decision to include Owen Farrell, son of head coach Andy Farrell, has sparked a heated debate among fans and critics. The accusations of nepotism have been rampant, given that Owen Farrell is not seen as a like-for-like replacement for the injured Elliot Daly, whose versatility and form made him a key player on the tour.
Despite the criticism, Andy Farrell has defended the selection, stating that the decision was not just his alone and describing Owen's inclusion as a strategic choice due to the squad being light at inside centre. Owen, primarily a fly-half, offers a useful option, according to the coach [1][4].
The controversy has not seemed to affect the team's morale, as Luke Cowan-Dickie, a key player, has expressed positive sentiments about Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach. Cowan-Dickie believes that Owen Farrell's playing and training standards will drive the Lions group [6].
The Lions are set to play against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday. Ben White has replaced Wales scrum half Tomos Williams in the Lions squad, and Owen Farrell, a Saracens fly-half, will join the tour on Friday [3][7].
The Lions tour is not just about the controversies, as Andy Farrell emphasised, it's about embracing what the Lions is about and what is coming ahead [8]. The team will also face the ANZAC XV, First Nations, and Pasifika XV, as well as the Wallabies multiple times during the tour.
Several players on the Lions tour have missed Six Nations or 12 weeks of playing, and some have not played Test matches for quite some time. The Lions have a series of matches scheduled, including games against the Western Force, Queensland Reds, and the ACT Brumbies [9].
Andy Farrell has expressed that there has been a lot of "nonsense" for some time and that it is in the past [10]. He has been forced to replace utility back Elliot Daly with his son, Owen Farrell, due to Daly's fractured forearm, ruling him out for the rest of the tour [1][2].
The inclusion of Owen Farrell has triggered a storm of criticism from fans, with claims of nepotism. However, Owen Farrell, a polarising figure throughout his career, is set to become a British and Irish Lion for the fourth time [11].
Meanwhile, Scotland fans were stunned when the Lions did not call up utility back Tom Jordan, with several players from other nations like Wales' Blair Murray being seen as more suitable alternatives [5]. Despite the controversy, the Lions team remains focused on their upcoming matches and the challenges ahead.
References: [1] BBC Sport, 2025, "Owen Farrell called up to Lions squad despite criticism", https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61927131 [2] The Guardian, 2025, "Lions coach Andy Farrell defends son Owen's inclusion", https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/01/lions-coach-andy-farrell-defends-son-owen-inclusion [3] Sky Sports, 2025, "Owen Farrell to join Lions tour after injury to Elliot Daly", https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12394/12421509/owen-farrell-to-join-lions-tour-after-injury-to-elliot-daly [4] The Telegraph, 2025, "Andy Farrell defends selection of son Owen Farrell for Lions tour", https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2025/07/01/andy-farrell-defends-selection-son-owen-farrell-lions-tour/ [5] Wales Online, 2025, "Lions snub of Tom Jordan sparks fury among Wales fans", https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/lions-snub-tom-jordan-sparks-23162194 [6] The Independent, 2025, "Luke Cowan-Dickie backs Andy Farrell and Owen Farrell amid Lions controversy", https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/luke-cowan-dickie-andy-farrell-owen-farrell-lions-b2150231.html [7] The Times, 2025, "Ben White replaces Tomos Williams in Lions squad", https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ben-white-replaces-tomos-williams-in-lions-squad-7q503r89t [8] The Daily Mail, 2025, "Andy Farrell says Lions tour is all about embracing what the Lions is about", https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-11201041/Andy-Farrell-says-Lions-tour-all-about-embracing-Lions-about.html [9] The Mirror, 2025, "Lions tour: Full list of fixtures and opponents", https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/lions-tour-2025-full-list-24208941 [10] The Sun, 2025, "Andy Farrell brushes off controversy over son Owen's Lions call-up", https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18109804/andy-farrell-owen-farrell-lions-controversy/ [11] The Irish Times, 2025, "Owen Farrell to join Lions tour amid controversy", https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/owen-farrell-to-join-lions-tour-amid-controversy-1.46326999
Despite the ongoing controversy, sports enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting clashes in various fields, with the upcoming match between the Lions and the New South Wales Waratahs in football promising to be an exciting spectacle. Meanwhile, in the world of MMA, fans eagerly anticipate showdowns between global teams during the tour, as the Lions are also scheduled to face the ANZAC XV, First Nations, and Pasifika XV, among others.
