"Only two Englishmen!" – Lawrence Dallaglio picks his Lions XV for 2025 tour
Rugby NewsMonday, 05 May 2025 at 19:19
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio has revealed his early selection for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour—and he's kept it strictly business.
Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
The World Cup-winning number eight stuck to form over favouritism, picking just two Englishmen in his 15-man dream team.
Appearing on the
Stick to Rugby podcast, Dallaglio explained that his selection was based purely on recent performances, consistency, and big-match temperament.
Here’s the XV he went with…
? Front-row fury
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong
Ireland dominate the front-row, with Porter’s scrummaging, Sheehan’s dynamism, and Furlong’s ball-playing brilliance giving the Lions a rock-solid base.
Ireland dominate the front-row, with Porter’s scrummaging, Sheehan’s dynamism, and Furlong’s ball-playing brilliance giving the Lions a rock-solid base.
?️ Towering second-row
Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne
Dallaglio couldn’t leave out Itoje’s athleticism or Beirne’s breakdown brilliance. One Englishman sneaks in here, but it’s fully deserved.
Dallaglio couldn’t leave out Itoje’s athleticism or Beirne’s breakdown brilliance. One Englishman sneaks in here, but it’s fully deserved.
Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
? Breakdown beasts
Josh van der Flier, Jack Willis, Caelan Doris
This is a back-row of nightmares. Van der Flier brings relentless energy, Willis gets the nod as the second English pick, and Doris continues to look like a future Lions captain.
This is a back-row of nightmares. Van der Flier brings relentless energy, Willis gets the nod as the second English pick, and Doris continues to look like a future Lions captain.
⚡ Lightning half-backs
Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell
Gibson-Park's tempo and Russell’s flair? This pairing screams chaos and creativity—exactly what Dallaglio wants.
Gibson-Park's tempo and Russell’s flair? This pairing screams chaos and creativity—exactly what Dallaglio wants.
? Power on the wings
James Lowe, Tommy Freeman
Lowe’s big boot and physicality make him a go-to pick, while Freeman earns a surprise call-up, showing Dallaglio’s faith in his rise through the England ranks.
Lowe’s big boot and physicality make him a go-to pick, while Freeman earns a surprise call-up, showing Dallaglio’s faith in his rise through the England ranks.
? Centres that hit hard
Bundee Aki, Huw Jones
No-nonsense from Dallaglio here—Aki’s World Cup form was unignorable, and Jones adds pace and sharp angles in midfield.
No-nonsense from Dallaglio here—Aki’s World Cup form was unignorable, and Jones adds pace and sharp angles in midfield.
?️ Rock-solid fullback
Hugo Keenan
Possibly the most underrated player in world rugby, Keenan rarely puts a foot wrong. Dallaglio’s words? “The most dependable player in Europe.”
Possibly the most underrated player in world rugby, Keenan rarely puts a foot wrong. Dallaglio’s words? “The most dependable player in Europe.”
Lawrence Dallaglio's 2025 Lions XV:
- Andrew Porter (Ireland)
- Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
- Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
- Maro Itoje (England)
- Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
- Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
- Jack Willis (England)
- Caelan Doris (Ireland)
- Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
- Finn Russell (Scotland)
- James Lowe (Ireland)
- Bundee Aki (Ireland)
- Huw Jones (Scotland)
- Tommy Freeman (England)
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
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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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