One year on from their series victory in Australia, attention is already beginning to turn towards the British and Irish Lions’ next challenge.
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In 2029, the famous touring side will head to New Zealand for what promises to be one of rugby’s toughest assignments. We have predicted the squad that could make the trip, featuring established stars alongside the next generation of Lions hopefuls.
Prop: Ellis Genge, Andrew Porter, Billy Bohan, Will Stuart, Tom Clarkson, Asher Opoku-Fordjour
By the time the next Lions tour arrives, Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter will be 34 and 33 respectively. While both will be towards the latter stages of their careers, they should still have enough left to make one more tour and would bring invaluable experience.
Billy Bohan has only just made his Ireland debut at the age of 20 and already looks to have huge potential. With a few more years of development, he could become a valuable squad member.
On the tighthead side, Will Stuart will be 32 and, like Genge and Porter, would provide plenty of experience. Tom Clarkson, who was a late call-up in 2025, should be entering his prime by 2029 and looks capable of becoming a dependable option.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour is continuing to develop into a top-level player and should be ready for the next Lions tour.
Hooker: Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Kepu Tuipulotu
Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher both toured Australia and will be 30 and 31 by the next Lions series, so there is little reason to think they will lose their places unless an exceptional young player breaks through.
Kepu Tuipulotu may not displace the two Irish hookers, but he looks set to become England’s next long-term starter as Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie move towards the latter stages of their careers. His athleticism and potential suggest he will be approaching his prime by 2029.
Lock: Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe McCarthy, Cormac Izuchukwu
Former captain Maro Itoje is unlikely to have another Lions tour in him, leaving Leicester Tigers skipper Ollie Chessum as a genuine candidate to captain the side. At 28, he should be at the peak of his powers and capable of leading from the front. George Martin has returned strongly from a long-term injury and, provided he stays fit, should continue to improve over the coming years.
Joe McCarthy toured in 2025 as a 24-year-old and there is every reason to expect him to keep progressing and retain his place.
Fellow Ireland international Cormac Izuchukwu has not yet accumulated many Test appearances, but he appears to possess all the attributes needed to succeed and will be 29 by the next tour.
Completing the group is one of only a handful of Welsh selections, Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins, who has already captained both club and country at just 23 and looks ideally suited to the demands of Lions rugby.
Back row: Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Rory Darge, Chandler Cunningham-South
Henry Pollock and Guy Pepper are two of the brightest young back-row prospects around. Both have already earned the trust of Steve Borthwick and should collect plenty of Test experience over the next three years.
Pollock, in particular, is one of the most exciting talents in the game both on and off the field.
Jac Morgan continues to stand out despite Wales’ struggles and has already shown in Australia the qualities that could allow him to thrive as a Lion. Ben Earl remains one of the game’s best carriers and will still only be 31.
Chandler Cunningham-South brings versatility, power and excellent tackling technique, provided he secures a regular England place over the coming years. Having been born in New Zealand also adds an interesting dimension.
Rory Darge should be at his peak by 2029 and looks set to become an increasingly important player for Scotland.
