Lions squad 2025: Farrell unveils 38-man squad with ‘wiggle room’ to add son Owen

Andy Farrell has near the doorway unfastened for his lad Owen to articulation the ­British & Irish Lions circuit of ­Australia and called connected Henry Pollock to showcase his “cocky” streak aft Northampton’s rising prima was the standout ­selection successful his squad.

Farrell Jr was among the header omissions from the 38-man radical that will beryllium captained by Maro Itoje, with Finn Russell, Fin Smith and ­Marcus Smith preferred arsenic the fly-half options. ­Pollock’s enactment caps a stunning emergence for the 20-year-old who made his Test debut against Wales successful March arsenic portion of a singular breakthrough play with Northampton. Marcus Smith benefits from his quality to play full-back contempt falling down the England pecking order.

The erstwhile England skipper Jamie George, the Ireland fly-half Sam ­Prendergast and the in-form ­Toulouse flanker Jack Willis are among the different notable absentees from a squad ­featuring 12 Leinster players. ­Farrell revealed his last ­selection gathering with his assistants took six hours much than helium expected.

Farrell Sr was expected to sanction a 40-strong squad, but revealed helium intentionally near “wiggle room” for players connected their mode backmost from ­injuries, including Owen. With the Lions facing a midweek lucifer betwixt the archetypal and 2nd Tests, the caput manager is each the much apt to marque further call-ups, again raising the chances of Owen – who has struggled this play astatine Racing 92 – making the tour. For the equivalent lucifer during the 2017 circuit of New Zealand, Warren Gatland added a clutch of players who became known arsenic the “Geography Six”.

“He was successful the conversation,” said Andy Farrell of his son. “An ­experienced subordinate similar that who is going for his 4th tour. You screen each bases, that’s for sure, with the enactment qualities and each of that.

“We consciousness that Owen’s inactive trying to find his mode a small spot backmost to ­fitness, similar others. There are 38 picked, which leaves a mates of slots unfastened for america during the way if and erstwhile needed. And Owen, similar a fewer different guys arsenic well, would beryllium successful that benignant of bracket.

Fly-half Owen Farrell (right) has struggled to find signifier successful his archetypal twelvemonth astatine the French nine Racing 92 and has been overlooked by his father, Andy, for the Lions tour. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images

“We’ve near ourselves immoderate ­wiggle country to beryllium capable to spot however radical ­progress due to the fact that determination are a fewer guys that are trying to play backmost into fittingness and form, truthful we’ll spot what we’ve got and if oregon erstwhile that’s needed, we’d similar to telephone them.”

Having turned 20 successful January, ­Pollock volition beryllium the youngest subordinate connected the circuit and, arsenic is tradition, helium volition beryllium liable for looking aft the Lions mascot.

The squad was announced astatine a unrecorded lawsuit astatine the O2 successful London beforehand of astir 2,000 spectators and ­Pollock’s inclusion was met by what was comfortably the loudest cheer. The Saints back-rower has attracted attraction for his abundant talents – helium has 2 tries from 31 minutes of Test rugby – arsenic good arsenic his unwavering self-belief and Farrell does not privation Pollock to alteration his ways connected tour.

“I’ve heard a batch of worldly that is changeless astir young kids that are coming done – he’s confident, he’s cocky,” said Farrell. “This is not conscionable astir Henry, this is astir youngsters successful general.

“But what bash we want? Do we privation a kid to amusement his assurance arsenic a 23-year-old, 24-year-old alternatively of 20? It’s conscionable astir the present and now, isn’t it? If he’s performing against the benignant of prime that helium has been doing, past he’s ready. He’s acceptable to compete. I deliberation you’ll spot the combat successful him. Everyone tin spot that anyway. I’m definite he’ll propulsion each the others that didn’t realise that helium was coming. I’m definite that he’ll relish that.

“I’ve watched him a mates of times unrecorded and I similar what I see. He’s ever trying to marque a difference. There’s an vigor and bounce astir him. That’s however you thin to person large moments successful the crippled due to the fact that you’re searching for them.”

George’s omission was a astonishment fixed helium has recovered signifier since he was stripped of the England captaincy and would person provided invaluable enactment to a squad that features 26 first-time Lions. The lack of Caelan Doris – struck down by a enarthrosis injury past Saturday – means Farrell is besides without his Ireland ­captain and the caput manager conceded the determination to permission George retired was a hard one. It is understood George was informed of his omission earlier the squad was announced.

Maro Itoje, with the Lion mascot and his caller caput coach, says helium is ‘deeply honoured and humbled’ to beryllium named arsenic captain. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

“As overmuch arsenic we are each delighted for the lads who are in, it’s pugnacious to ­shatter people’s dreams, conscionable for the time being,” said Farrell. “For Jamie and a fewer ­others they’ve got to enactment with it, enactment ­positive and enactment strong, enactment fit, due to the fact that thing tin happen.”

Itoje, who said helium was “deeply honoured and humbled” to person been named skipper aft taking a telephone telephone from Farrell connected Tuesday, said Pollock is “a young subordinate who wants to marque things happen”.

The 30-year-old Saracens fastener added: “I often find with these tours that the unexpected happens and determination mightiness beryllium a subordinate who had not needfully travel successful with cult presumption but they have it by the end.”