Head coach Andy Farrell is expected to reveal a group of between 37-40 players this afternoon to head to Australia this summer for a 10-match tour that includes three Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
This year things are being done a little differently, with the squad being announced for the first time in front of a crowd of more than 2,000 fans at a special event held at indigo at the O2 Arena in London.
Maro Itoje is expected to be named as England’s first Lions captain since Martin Johnson in 2001, with main leadership rival Caelan Doris now potentially set to miss the entire tour after surgery on a shoulder injury suffered playing for Leinster in their shock Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton in Dublin last weekend.
There are bound to be a few surprises and curveballs thrown by Ireland head coach Farrell, who served as assistant to Warren Gatland on both the Lions tours of 2013 and 2017.
Among the biggest talking points is likely to be the status of Henry Pollock, Northampton and England’s confident and all-action young back row who has long since become everyone’s favourite choice as a proper Lions ‘bolter’ after some outrageous recent performances for Saints, including against Leinster in a potentially decisive showing.
How to watch Lions squad announcement
TV channel: Live coverage of the squad announcement will be available on Thursday on Sky Sports, exclusive broadcast home of the British and Irish Lions once more in 2025.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch it via the SkyGo app, while Sky is also putting on a free live stream online. Free coverage is also available via the official Lions YouTube channel.
