British & Irish Lions set to face TWO new nations before 2029 New Zealand tour

According to The Telegraph, advanced discussions are underway for the Lions to take on the Azzurri in what would be the first fixture between the two sides. The match is expected to serve as a warm-up ahead of the 2029 tour, mirroring the Lions' clash with Argentina in Dublin before travelling to Australia in 2025.

The report states that the Italy fixture is provisionally scheduled for June 23, 2029, with a second warm-up against France expected to follow a week later on June 30. While the France match is set to be played on French soil, the Italy encounter is understood to be planned for the United Kingdom as part of the Federazione Italiana Rugby's centenary celebrations.

The Allianz Stadium at Twickenham is reportedly the leading contender to host the fixture, having never staged a Lions match in the professional era.

If confirmed, the additional warm-up matches would mean only eight of the Lions' permitted 10 tour fixtures would take place in New Zealand. Those are expected to include the traditional three-Test series against the All Blacks alongside matches against the country's Super Rugby franchises, with the future of fixtures against the Maori All Blacks and New Zealand Provincial Barbarians yet to be determined.

A British & Irish Lions spokesperson told The Telegraph: "Discussions around the schedule for the next Lions men's tour are still ongoing and there is no confirmation of any fixtures at this stage."

TEST XV: Dan Sheehan (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST SUB: Dewi Lake (Wales & Ospreys)

MID WEEK: Theo Dan (England & Saracens)

Starting off in the hookers depth chart, and we see only one man as the out-right Test starter for the 2029 Lions tour. Dan Sheehan has already captained the British & Irish Lions in their mid-week match against Western Force, as Maro Itoje took a break fresh from arriving in Australia. Sheehan has been tremendous all tour and the Irishman is rightfully staking a claim to be the first name on the team sheet this Summer, never mind in four years time when he really comes into his prime.

We've opted for a new era of front rowers to support Sheehan out in New Zealand, with Wales' Dewi Lake our pick to take the number 16 jersey for the Test series. Lake will be 30 by the time the New Zealand tour rolls around, and would likely be the first choice hooker should 31-year-old Elliot Dee hang up the Test match boots in the coming years. The same can be said about England's Theo Dan, who looks ready to take the torch from his Saracens mentor Jamie George once the centurion calls it a day at Test level.

Dan looked all but set for a leading role for England's 2nd Test against Argentina and the standalone fixture against the USA this Summer, as George was whisked away with the Lions following the injury to fellow countryman Luke Cowan-Dickie. However, Dan himself picked up an ankle injury, that has curtailed his Summer tour in dramatic fashion. Dan will be 28-years-old in 2029, with four more years of experience he will be ready for the enormity of the Lions tour.

TEST XV: (LOOSE-HEAD): Andrew Porter (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST XV: (TIGHT-HEAD): Will Stuart (England & Bath)

TEST SUB: (LOOSE-HEAD): Asher Opoku-Fordjour (England & Sale Sharks)

TEST SUB (TIGHT-HEAD): Zander Fagerson (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)

MID WEEK: (LOOSE-HEAD): Fin Baxter (England & Harlequins)

MID WEEK: (TIGHT-HEAD): Kieron Assiratti (Wales & Cardiff)

TRAINING SQUAD: Kemsley Mathias (Wales & Scarlets)

So, a real mix of propping talent from across the British & Irish isles, with each nation represented in our picks for the 2029 front row options. We'll begin with the Test starters, and we can see a veteran pair of 33-year-olds nailed down for the one and three jerseys in Andrew Porter and Will Stuart. The duo have each emerged as the first-choice props for their respective nations, with Ireland's legendary loose-head Cian Healy retiring this season, along with England's grizzled tight-head Dan Cole.

In four years time, Porter and Stuart will be coming towards the tale end of their careers, with plentiful experience backing them to be the first choice pillars of the 2029 Lions scrum. On the bench for the Test series, we can see England's enigmatic break-out prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour making a name for himself over the next four years, as the Sale man will be 25 when the next tour comes around. Opoku-Fordjour was called up to the Lions training camp after Zander Fagerson withdrew from the squad earlier this Summer due to a devastating injury. We can see both the England and Scotland props heading to New Zealand in four years time.

The baby-faced bruiser Fin Baxter then joins the tour, along with imposing Wales prop Kieron Assiratti. Baxter will be 27 and Assiratti 32 when the Lions jet off to New Zealand, with an array of international experience under their belts by the time they become Lions tourists. We've selected another Welsh prop to bolster the training squad, with Kemsley Mathias set to hit his on-field prime ahead of the tour.

TEST XV: (LOCK 4) Maro Itoje (C) (England & Saracens)

TEST XV: (LOCK 5) Joe McCarthy (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST SUB: Ollie Chessum (England & Leicester Tigers)

MID WEEK: George Martin (England & Leicester Tigers)

MID WEEK: Dafydd Jenkins (Wales & Exeter Chiefs)

TRAINING SQUAD: Junior Kpoku (England & Racing 92)

Onto the engine room now, with Maro Itoje our pick to retain the captain's armband for a second consecutive tour. The lock would take up the Alun Wyn Jones role, as the experienced elder statesman to command his troops through the Test series against the All Blacks. Itoje's Lions career would then come full circle, as the Saracens stalwart made his touring debut against New Zealand upon the 2017 tour that infamously ended in a drawn series.

Partnering Itoje in the Test match locks would be Ireland's Joe McCarthy, who looks set to explode upon the Test match stage in the coming months. The 24-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance for Leinster, during their United Rugby Championship winning season, and with Ireland as he now has 19 caps under his belt. McCarthy has already been a stand-out performer in the Lions' red, with an unrelenting work rate and dominance in contact making him former Lions skipper-turned pundit Sam Warburton's pick to partner Itoje for the Test series against Australia. The same and more would be expected for NZ '29.

Taking the number 19 jersey for the 2029 Lions tour in our eyes is Ollie Chessum, given how the England and Leicester Tigers man brings such valuable versatility to the Test stage. Comfortable at both lock and when called upon in the back row, Chessum is a phenomenal operator who will be hitting his prime at 28-years-old when the 2029 tour comes around.

We can also see space for Chessum's England and Tigers teammate George Martin to make his Lions debut in 2029. Martin's litany of injuries kept him side-lined for the trip 'down under', as he is spending the Summer rehabbing a problematic knee and arduous shoulder issue that hindered his latest season. We also predict a place for former Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins upon the 2029 tour, as the Exeter Chiefs man would be 26-year, and a battle-hardened Welsh stalwart when the Lions selectors come calling.

Rounding off the locks is our 'bolter' of a pick, as England U20s lock Junior Kpoku is making waves at such an early stage of his career. Kpoku is currently plying his trade with Racing 92, yet a move to the Premiership would bring him onto the England books and commence his four year run of Test match experience. Currently only 19, Kpoku would be a 23-year-old break-out star upon the 2029 tour.

TEST XV (BLINDSIDE FLANKER): Tom Curry (England & Sale Sharks)

TEST XV (OPENSIDE FLANKER): Henry Pollock (England & Northampton Saints)

TEST XV (NUMBER EIGHT): Caelan Doris (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST SUB: Ben Earl (England & Saracens)

MID WEEK: Jac Morgan (Wales & Ospreys)

MID WEEK: Rory Darge (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)

Moving on to the back row, the immediate stand-out upon the Test starting XV is Henry Pollock. The 20-year-old emerged like a bolt from the blue this past season, and despite only having 20-minutes of Test experience under his England belt, Lions head coach Andy Farrell could not ignore his incredible efforts for Northampton Saints. Pollock is our pick to start on the flank in 2029, alongside his England teammate Tom Curry, who has had a real career resurgence in the six jersey.

After missing out on this year's Lions tour with an untimely injury, Ireland back row Caelan Doris would want to make up for lost time upon his 2029 Lions call-up. Doris was one of a handful of names predicted to captain the Lions, that's how much of a sure-fire pick the Leinster man was for a place on the plane to Australia. However, a gut-punching shoulder injury in Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton ended his run to the red jersey. Doris will be 31-years-old come 2029, with retribution on his mind all the way from Dublin to Dunedin.

Holding down the number 20 jersey within our Test match squad is Ben Earl, with his versatility across six, seven and eight being the decisive factor ahead of Wales captain Jac Morgan. Earl has had an underwhelming tour thus far down in Australia, having not brought the usual fire and intensity that has made him one of the first names on Steve Borthwick's team-sheet. Earl would be 31-years-old come 2029, with a wiser approach to his furosity expected as he hits his third decade.

Jac Morgan and Rory Darge were tremendous in their captaincy for Wales and Scotland throughout the 2025 Six Nations, with an added four years of experience set to only elevate their status within the Home Nations pecking order. Darge was unlucky to miss out on the tour, whilst Morgan has excelled in the chances he's been awarded out in Australia. The Welshman is knocking on the door for a Test involvement this Summer, and could well be back in the mix some four years later in New Zealand.

TEST XV: Ben White (Scotland & RC Toulon)

TEST SUB: Alex Mitchell (England & Northampton Saints)

MID WEEK: Kieran Hardy (Wales & Ospreys)

Our picks for the 2029 Lions scrum halves sees two returning halfbacks embark upon their second tour, with a fresh face taking the reins throughout the mid-week fixtures. After initially missing out on a place upon the squad, Scotland's Ben White got his call-up following the unfortunate injury to Wales and Gloucester man Tomos Williams. White was preparing to lead Gregor Townsend's side upon Scotland's tour of the Pacific Islands, yet was swept away to bolster the squad, that many believe he should have already have been a figurehead in.

There is plenty of speculation that White could make a late push to be the Lions' Test starter in the nine jersey this Summer, and bring the Scottish play-making axis with Finn Russell to the Wallabies defence. The door would be back open for White in 2029, as both Jamison Gibson-Park and Tomos Williams would be well into their mid-30s, allowing the Scotsman and Alex Mitchell to battle for the nine jersey. Mitchell has showcased the England-Northampton telepathy with Fin Smith in the red of the Lions, yet the East Midlands brotherhood has struggled to shine just yet out in Australia.

Mitchell would certainly be a front-runner in 2029 to be the first choice Test scrum half for the Lions, with a tug-of-war set to dominate the halfback rankings between him and his Scottish counterpart. We've picked Welshman Kieran Hardy to round off the scrum halves, in a supporting role to Mitchell and White. There is an honourable mention to Jack van Poortvliet, yet Hardy's added experience could well be paramount upon the tour of New Zealand.

TEST XV: Fin Smith (England & Northampton Saints)

TEST SUB: Marcus Smith (England & Harlequins)

MID WEEK: Jack Crowley (Ireland & Munster)

TRAINING SQUAD: Sam Prendergast (Ireland & Leinster)

Picking the British & Irish Lions fly half is a tough decision for this week, never mind a prediction some four years into the future. With Owen Farrell now in the mix for the tourists, the experienced Saracen is jostling up against Finn Russell, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith to be the starting 10 for the series against Australia. The 10 jersey always produces an array of selection headaches, and it looks to cause the same amount of issues some four years into the future.

We've selected two English and two Irish players to pad out the fly half ranks, with no place upon the future tour for near-misses Sam Costelow of Wales and Scotland's Fergus Burke. Having earned his stripes upon a maiden Lions tour this Summer, we predict England's calm-headed fly half Fin Smith to take the lead upon the 2029 tour of New Zealand. The Northampton Saints man has proven himself to be a reliable match winner and a thoughtful conductor of the back-line, making him the most pragmatic choice for the 10 jersey in four years from now.

We expect Marcus Smith to once again be on the plane down to the Southern Hemisphere, in what would be the third tour for the England and Harlequins maestro. With the x-factor ability of making something out of nothing and bringing an electric flash of mesmeric attacking play to the Lions back-line, Smith can't be overlooked, even if it makes the fly half pool all the more convoluted. Capable at both 10 and in the 15 jersey, Smith would likely join the tour as a fly half, but could well be deployed in the back-field like we have already seen out in Australia.

Then onto the Irish contingency, with Munster man Jack Crowley and Leinster's Sam Prendergast set to battle it out as the mid-week squad's starting fly half. These two men are set to share a career in direct competition, having emerged as the front-runners to the Irish 10 jersey following the retirement of Johnny Sexton.

However, with Finn Russell and Owen Farrell still knocking about upon the Test match stage, neither Crowley or Prendergast made their way over to Australia. With international retirements inbound for two of the all-time great fly halves, 2029 could be the year for a new era of fly halves.

TEST XV: (INSIDE CENTRE) Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)

TEST XV: (OUTSIDE CENTRE) Ollie Lawrence (England & Bath)

MID WEEK: (INSIDE CENTRE) Tom Jordan (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)

MID WEEK: (OUTSIDE CENTRE) Garry Ringrose (Ireland & Leinster)

TRAINING SQUAD: Mason Grady (Wales & Cardiff)

The Lions’ midfield heading into 2029 is an exciting cocktail of brute force, flair, and tactical maturity, that is spearheaded by the resurgent Sione Tuipulotu and the relentless Ollie Lawrence. With Bundee Aki set to retire from the Test stage, the Tuipulotu is set to emerge as one of the most consistent centres in the northern hemisphere. Tuipulotu gets our nod for the inside centre slot and a second Lions tour, bringing ball-playing creativity and hard-running bite to the Lions’ backline.

Outside him, we’ve gone with England's Ollie Lawrence, who was heart-broken to sustain an Achilles injury in the 2025 Six Nations clash with Italy and rule him out of the tour. Lawrence has shown he can thrive at both 12 and 13, but we’ve placed him in his more natural outside centre berth, where his explosive carry game and aggressive defence will be vital in the Test cauldron against New Zealand. Lawrence and Tuipulotu form a bruising, intelligent midfield combination that could unsettle even the sturdiest All Blacks’ defensive structure.

Backing them up in the mid-week fixtures is another Glasgow connection — Tom Jordan, the New Zealand-born inside centre whose eligibility switch to Scotland was a major coup for Gregor Townsend. Jordan has stepped up for Glasgow in big moments, and his understanding with Tuipulotu gives Andy Farrell a ready-made pairing to try out with combinations during the tour.

Alongside him is the vastly experienced Garry Ringrose, who earns a recall to Lions duty as a mid-week leader and playmaker. The Leinster man will be 34 come 2029, and while he may not be pushing for Test involvement, his defensive nous and reading of the game would remain top class.

Completing the centre group is Mason Grady, who just misses out on the full squad but earns a spot as a training call-up. The Cardiff man continues to grow into his 6’5” frame, with Wales increasingly using him as a direct strike runner and wide channel threat. Grady could yet find himself elevated into matchday squads if injuries hit, and his raw physicality is a tempting wildcard should the Lions need to shift their attacking blueprint mid-tour come 2029.

TEST XV: (LEFT WING) Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England and Exeter Chiefs)

TEST XV: (RIGHT WING) Tommy Freeman (England & Northampton Saints)

MID WEEK: (LEFT WING) Mack Hansen (Ireland & Connacht)

MID WEEK: (RIGHT WING) Tommy O'Brien (Ireland & Leinster)

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's hopes for the 2025 Lions tour ended in brutal fashion, as he sustained a shoulder injury that just kept coming back. The Exeter Chiefs wing was cleared for action, yet Feyi-Waboso re-aggrevated the issue shortly after returning the pitch.

Following his return in an England XV match against France XV, the wing went and got sent off for a two-match ban. This only hindered his hopes of a late Lions call, but at just 22-years-old Feyi-Waboso has time on his side for a run with the Lions, with his dazzling England rise only set to continue once he returns to full fitness and his suspension subsides.

On the right, Feyi-Waboso's fellow countryman Tommy Freeman returns for a second Lions tour and claims a Test starting role off the bat. Freeman is currently battling against the likes of James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe out in Australia, yet the sands of time are ticking for the Ireland and Scotland wings, who would be past their best in 2029.

The Northampton Saints man has flourished within Steve Borthwick's England squad, with a grand slam of tries having scored in every fixture of the 2025 Six Nations. Freeman’s connection with Fin Smith adds another layer to the Lions’ attacking options, and his strength under the high ball will be vital in dealing with New Zealand’s kicking game.

In the mid-week fixtures, Ireland and Connacht man Mack Hansen offers experience and unpredictability. While his spot in the Irish XV has been challenged by emerging talents in recent seasons, Hansen remains a devastating broken-field runner and off-the-cuff creator. His inclusion as a 31-year-old senior voice in the mid-week squad provides spark and leadership, traits that have made him a fan favourite on tour.

Completing the wing unit is break-out Ireland star Tommy O’Brien, whose recent emergence at both Leinster and in the green of his country propels him forward as a reliable wide option. A natural footballer with a solid kicking game and strong defensive work rate, his versatility across the backline could prove invaluable should injuries arise later in the tour. With a strong English flavour to the Test wings and two intelligent Irish operators providing depth, the Lions look well stocked to take the wide battle to New Zealand.

TEST XV: Blair Kinghorn (Scotland & Stade Toulousain)

TEST SUB: Freddie Steward (England & Leicester Tigers)

MID WEEK: Henry Arundell (England and Bath)

The fullback jersey for the 2029 British & Irish Lions goes to Blair Kinghorn, whose seamless adaptation to life in France with Toulouse has elevated him firmly into world-class territory. Long viewed as a utility option, Kinghorn has fully claimed the No.15 shirt in both club and country colours, combining towering aerial presence with sleek distribution and long-range kicking.

His ability to slot in at fly-half if needed only strengthens his case as a Test starter, offering Farrell an extra play-maker with proven big-match composure. Kinghorn would be 32 when the 2029 tour comes around, in what could well be the crowning moment of his decorated career, should he avoid similar injuries that have hindered his run out in Australia.

On the bench, England's Freddie Steward remains one of the most consistent performers in northern hemisphere rugby, despite a challenging couple of years in and out of Steve Borthwick's side. Steward's height, safe hands, and calm defensive positioning make him an ideal option to close out games or step in if conditions favour a more conservative aerial battle.

Though he may have lost his place as a guaranteed England starter, following George Furbank's recent hot form and the insistence to play Marcus Smith in the back-field, Steward he brings invaluable security and reliability to the Lions’ back-three. Having been a feature of the England side for so long, you'd struggle to believe that Steward is only 24-years-old, with time on his side to excel in the red of the Lions.

Slotting into the mid-week squad is Henry Arundell, who is now freshly back in England having agreed a move to Bath from Racing 92. The blue, black and whites will unleash the England flyer across the wing and at fullback, with Arundell expert adaptability elevating his stock to no end.

Arundell’s electric footwork and fearless counter-attacking style make him a dangerous presence in broken field play, and he offers a thrilling option for mid-week clashes. His versatility across the back three makes him a strong contender to rise into the matchday 23 should injury or form open the door.

Between Kinghorn’s maturity, Steward’s dependability, and Arundell’s game-breaking flair, the Lions boast a fullback group with tactical range and match-winning potential. At just 22-years-old, Arundell is certainly one for the Lions future, with Kinghorn carrying the fullback torch for one last Lions run down in New Zealand in four years time.

15. Freddie Steward 14. Tommy Freeman 13. Ollie Lawrence 12. Sione Tuipulotu 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 10. Fin Smith 9. Ben White 1 Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Will Stuart 4. Maro Itoje (C) 5. Joe McCarthy 6. Tom Curry 7. Henry Pollock 8. Caelan Doris

16. Dewi Lake 17. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 18. Zander Fagerson 19. Ollie Chessum 20. Ben Earl 21. Alex Mitchell 22. Marcus Smith 23. Blair Kinghorn