. Easterby was initially expected to lead Ireland in their summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal, but he’s now likely to link up with the Lions instead. His exact role remains unclear, though he has experience coaching both defence and the forwards.
Johnny Sexton is reportedly set to take his first official coaching role with Ireland, while British & Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell looks to lean heavily on his Irish connections for his backroom team.
, Sexton is expected to join Ireland’s coaching setup for the July internationals, having already been spotted observing from the coaches’ box during the Six Nations. This move would mark his first step into coaching since retiring from playing.
Lions gig off the table?
The former Ireland captain had been tipped for the Lions’ attack coach role, but it now looks like Crusaders assistant Andrew Goodman will take charge of that department instead.
Meanwhile, Farrell is set to bring in Ireland’s interim head coach Simon Easterby for the 2025 tour to Australia, as reported by Telegraph Sport
Irish influence grows
Farrell’s support team is shaping up to have a strong Irish flavour, with Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty, athletic performance guru Aled Walters, general manager David Nucifora, and head of analysis Vinny Hammond all expected to be involved.
One notable absentee is Shaun Edwards—the former Lions assistant in 2009—who is reportedly unavailable due to his commitments with the French Rugby Federation.
Farrell is set to confirm his full Lions coaching team on 26 March.
2025 British & Irish Lions Squad: Bookies’ Predictions for the Tour
With the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia fast approaching, the bookmakers have released their early odds on who will make the squad.
While a lot can change between now and the final selection, these odds give a strong indication of who the bookies believe will be donning the famous red jersey next summer.
Back-Three: Scottish Stars and Irish Firepower
Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe (1/16) is the closest thing to a certainty, while Ireland’s James Lowe (1/8) and Hugo Keenan (1/5) are also heavily favoured. England’s Tommy Freeman (4/9) is making a strong case, while Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn (8/11) and Darcy Graham (2/1) could add versatility and attacking flair.
Centres: Aki and Lawrence Lead the Charge
Ireland’s Bundee Aki (1/5) and England’s Ollie Lawrence (1/4) seem nailed on, while Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu (2/7) looks like a strong contender. Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw (8/11) will be hoping to stay fit and prove his worth once again.
Fly-Halves: Russell’s to Lose?
Scotland’s magician Finn Russell (1/10) is almost a lock for the squad, but England’s rising star Fin Smith (8/15) and Ireland’s young talent Sam Prendergast (8/11) are being heavily backed to join him.
Scrum-Halves: A Tight Race
Jamison Gibson-Park (8/11) leads the way for Ireland, but England’s Alex Mitchell (11/10) and Scotland’s Ben White (11/10) are in close contention for the remaining spots.
Forwards: Battle for the Pack
In the front row, Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong (1/8) and Andrew Porter (1/7) are near certainties, while England’s Ellis Genge (4/6) and young Fin Baxter (5/6) are well-fancied. Hooker spots are likely to be taken by Dan Sheehan (1/10), Jamie George (8/15), and potentially Luke Cowan-Dickie (6/5).
Maro Itoje (1/33) is the bookies' biggest lock, with Tadhg Beirne (1/10) and Joe McCarthy (4/6) also well backed. In the back-row, Caelan Doris (1/5) and Ben Earl (1/5) lead the way, while Tom Curry (8/15) and Jack Morgan (4/6) are still in contention.
The bolded players in our proposed Lions squad represent the starting XV, according to current odds.
2025 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD (36)
BACK-THREE (6)
- Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland) - 1/16
- James Lowe (Ireland) - 1/8
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland) - 1/5
- Tommy Freeman (England) - 4/9
- Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) - 8/11
- Darcy Graham (Scotland) - 2/1
CENTRE (4)
- Bundee Aki (Ireland) - 1/5
- Ollie Lawrence (England) - 1/4
- Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland) - 2/7
- Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) - 8/11
FLY-HALVES (3)
- Fin Russell (Scotland) - 1/10
- Fin Smith (England) - 8/15
- Sam Prendergast (Ireland) - 8/11
SCRUM-HALVES (3)
- Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) - 8/11
- Alex Mitchell (England) - 11/10
- Ben White (Scotland) - 11/10
PROP (3)
- Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) - 1/8
- Andrew Porter (Ireland) - 1/7
- Zander Fagerson (Scotland) - 4/11
- Ellis Genge (England) - 4/6
- Fin Baxter (England) - 5/6
- Pierre Schoeman (Scotland) - 5/4
HOOKER (3)
- Dan Sheehan (Ireland) - 1/10
- Jamie George (England) - 8/15
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (England) - 6/5
LOCK (5)
- Maro Itoje (England) - 1/33
- Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) - 1/10
- Joe McCarthy (Ireland) - 4/6
- Ollie Chessum (England) - 8/11
- George Martin (England) - 11/10
BACK-ROW (6)
- Caelan Doris (Ireland) - 1/5
- Ben Earl (England) - 1/5
- Josh van der Flier (Ireland) - 1/3
- Tom Curry (England) - 8/15
- Jack Morgan (Wales) - 4/6
- Ben Curry (England) - 6/4
Can you name every England Rugby captain of the professional era?
From the early days of professionalism to the modern era, England has seen a host of legendary captains wearing the armband.
Whether it's the grit of Will Carling in the 90s, the tactical brilliance of Martin Johnson, or the fearless leadership of Owen Farrell, this quiz will challenge even the most dedicated fans.
Think you can name them all? Grab your boots and let's see how well you know the men who led England into battle on the world stage!
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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