Maro Itoje is reportedly set to make history as the in 2001, .
The Saracens star looks nailed-on to lead the tourists to Australia this summer after an impressive Six Nations campaign where he took the reins for England and steered them to a runners-up finish.
Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
Doris blow opens the door
A shoulder injury to Ireland’s Caelan Doris — Itoje’s main rival for the captaincy — is expected to rule the Leinster star out of the entire series, making Farrell’s decision much more straightforward.
The Lions boss will unveil his 37-40 man squad on Thursday at a glitzy lunchtime event at indigo at The O2 in London, with a crowd of 2,000 expected to be in attendance.
FROM LIONS TO LOVE: Maro Itoje announces engagement
While preparing for the biggest honour of his rugby career, Itoje has also been celebrating off the field — he’s getting married!
The 30-year-old lock confirmed his engagement to long-term partner Mimi Fall, after a romantic proposal during a summer getaway to Nigeria.
Mimi Fall: The artist who captured Maro's heart
A model and celebrated artist, Mimi met Maro during a fashion shoot — and sparks flew. While Maro smashes rucks and dominates lineouts, Mimi is a rising star in the world of fashion and fine art.
The announcement sent social media wild, with Marcus Smith among the first to comment: “Congrats to you both!!”
Wedding on hold — Lions duties first
While fans are already dreaming of wedding snaps, they’ll have to wait. Reports suggest Itoje has told Mimi that their big day will likely be postponed until at least mid-August, as all eyes now turn to a potentially tour-defining summer in red.
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Current Injured Lions Players:
Here’s the latest on eight players whose Lions dreams are hanging by a thread.
Caelan Doris – Captain in Crisis?
Ireland skipper Caelan Doris is a huge injury doubt for the Lions tour after Leinster confirmed the back-rower needs a “procedure” on a shoulder issue.
The 27-year-old, tipped by many as a potential Lions captain, was forced off during Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints at Croke Park.
Leinster haven’t confirmed the severity yet, but head coach Jacques Nienaber didn’t sugarcoat it.
“My gut says it’s serious,” he admitted. “Caelan’s not someone who comes off easily – so when I saw him go down, I feared the worst.”
With Farrell set to name his squad in just days, Doris is now in a race against time.
Duhan van der Merwe – Running Out of Time?
Scotland’s record-breaking winger Duhan van der Merwe is battling an ankle injury – and his Lions chances are fading fast.
The 29-year-old, who has 32 tries in 49 Tests, picked up the injury early in Edinburgh’s recent URC win over the Dragons. The club says he’s “expected to return during May”, but that might be too late.
With James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy Freeman, and Darcy Graham all in electric form, Van der Merwe’s spot is under serious threat.
Sione Tuipulotu – A Quick Healer or Out of Time?
Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu hasn’t played since January due to a freak pectoral injury – and his Lions hopes are hanging by a thread.
Glasgow boss Franco Smith remains optimistic. “He’ll be back, I’ve got no doubt about that,” he said.
But with Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, and even Scotland teammate Tom Jordan making strong cases, Tuipulotu might have left it too late.
George Furbank – Still in the Mix?
England full-back George Furbank is another big name under an injury cloud.
The Northampton star missed the Six Nations after breaking his arm in December but made a return last month. However, he’s struggling with a fresh issue and missed Saints’ Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster.
He hasn’t been ruled out of the Lions squad yet, but time is running out.
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Zander & Matt Fagerson – Double Trouble for Scotland
Bad news for the Fagerson brothers.
Zander Fagerson is battling a calf injury suffered in training, just weeks after missing Glasgow’s Champions Cup hammering by Leinster due to concussion. Head coach Franco Smith says he’s out for the “foreseeable future”.
Meanwhile, Matt Fagerson is already ruled out for the season with an ankle injury. His Lions hopes? All but over.
Ollie Lawrence – Achilles Blow Ends Lions Dream
England centre Ollie Lawrence is definitely out.
The Bath powerhouse ruptured his Achilles against Italy in the Six Nations and faces 9-12 months on the sidelines.
He summed it up himself on social media: “Lost for words… That’s not how I imagined my season to end.”
With Lawrence out, the Lions’ midfield battle just got even more interesting, with Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, and Joe Marchant all in contention.
Can You Name Every British & Irish Lions Captain Since 2001?
Ready to test your knowledge on British & Irish Lions captains since 2001?
You have five minutes to recall the leaders who have represented the four nations on some of rugby's most historic tours.
From monumental victories to heart-stopping battles, these captains have etched their names into Lions folklore. Can you name them all before time runs out? Let’s find out—good luck!
