Will Greenwood selects his 37-man Lions squad, nine Englishmen included
Rugby NewsSunday, 30 March 2025 at 10:15
The buzz around the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia is heating up after the first round of the Six Nations.
Will Greenwood has thrown his hat into the ring with an early squad that’s sparking debate. As he puts it in The Telegraph:
"Here is my squad as it stands. Go to the Telegraph’s squad selector tool to see if you can do better!"
From solid scrummagers to electrifying backs, here’s Greenwood’s initial take on who should be boarding the plane.
Props: Genge to Lead the Charge
Ellis Genge (England)
Greenwood believes Genge could be the heart of a captivating Lions narrative. The Englishman’s edge and leadership qualities make him hard to overlook.
Andrew Porter (Ireland)
“Probably the best loosehead in the northern hemisphere over the past four years,” says Greenwood. Only Cyril Baille has challenged his dominance when fit.
Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)
Schoeman has been integral to Scotland’s transformation under Gregor Townsend. Greenwood rates him as a cornerstone of their resurgence.
Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
A fan favourite of Greenwood’s. He hails Fagerson as “the best footballer of all these props.”
Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Even in Furlong’s absence, England fancy their chances against Ireland – which, according to Greenwood, speaks volumes about the tighthead’s influence.
Will Stuart (England)
Quietly impressing for a while now, Stuart has made his mark. Greenwood feels he should’ve risen up the England pecking order earlier.
Finlay Bealham (Ireland)
Stepping up admirably in Furlong’s absence, Greenwood thinks there’s every chance both Irish tightheads will make the tour.
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
Hookers: Ashman Set for Big Future
Ewan Ashman (Scotland)
“Aggressive, stylish, and destined for 70-80 caps,” Greenwood tips Ashman as a future Scotland great.
Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)
Kelleher may have lived in Dan Sheehan’s shadow, but Greenwood highlights his contributions to Ireland and Leinster’s success.
Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
Integral to Ireland becoming the best team in the world, Sheehan remains one of the first names on Greenwood’s list.
Second Row: Itoje’s Experience Key
Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Greenwood believes Beirne was a nailed-on Test starter a year ago and will be gunning for the same status in Australia.
Scott Cummings (Scotland)
An unsung hero for Scotland. Greenwood laments Cummings’ injury-enforced absence, calling him “consistently excellent.”
Maro Itoje (England)
Set for his third Lions tour, Greenwood sees Itoje’s experience as indispensable.
Joe McCarthy (Ireland)
Described by Greenwood as a “big lump,” McCarthy’s physicality could be vital.
Will Rowlands (Wales)
Even in defeat, Rowlands showed his worth against France. Greenwood respects his power and Test-match experience.
Back Row: Doris to Captain?
Rory Darge (Scotland)
Drawing comparisons to Lewis Moody, Greenwood admires Darge’s ability to disrupt and play on both sides of the ball.
Caelan Doris (Ireland)
Classy and composed, Greenwood likens Doris to Kieran Read and tips him as potential Lions captain.
Matt Fagerson (Scotland)
A natural ball magnet, Fagerson’s ability to carry and influence play has impressed Greenwood.
Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
Greenwood calls him a “cube of a wrecking ball,” highlighting his consistency across all areas of the game.
Jack Willis (England)
Thriving in the best team in the world, Toulouse, Willis is more than holding his own. Greenwood is convinced he’s Lions material.
Jac Morgan (Wales)
After a standout performance against France, Morgan’s relentless work-rate makes him a nailed-on pick in Greenwood’s eyes.
Scrum-Halves: Gibson-Park Under Pressure?
Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
Sensational for three years, but Greenwood feels Tomos Williams could challenge him.
Alex Mitchell (England)
England’s form without Mitchell highlights just how good he is, says Greenwood.
Tomos Williams (Wales)
Described as a game-changer, Williams has already transformed Gloucester and could do the same for Wales.
Fly-Halves: Russell in a League of His Own
Finn Russell (Scotland)
“Absolutely miles ahead of everyone,” says Greenwood. Russell is the clear Test 10 in his squad.
Fin Smith (England)
Smith’s style suits a Lions tour. Greenwood envisions him guiding the midweek team and helping debutants settle in.
Marcus Smith (England)
Versatile and dangerous, Greenwood believes Smith’s skillset makes him a must-pick – whether at 10 or 15.
Centres: Henshaw and Tuipulotu Anchor the Midfield
Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
Greenwood likens Henshaw to Tuipulotu, emphasising the need for gain-line dominance at 12.
Huw Jones (Scotland)
The best angle-runner in the game, according to Greenwood, as Italy found out the hard way.
Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Sublime when fully fit, Greenwood hopes Ringrose can stay injury-free and hit top form.
Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
A fan favourite with huge potential. Greenwood is keeping his fingers crossed for Tuipulotu’s full recovery.
Back Three: Graham the Kolbe Clone
George Furbank (England)
A stylish footballer who would have shone on a 1974 tour. Greenwood laments his injury that ruled him out of the Six Nations.
Darcy Graham (Scotland)
Greenwood’s “Gabin Villière” or “Cheslin Kolbe,” Graham’s ability to create magic from nothing earns him a place.
Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
Lighting up Toulouse, Kinghorn has been playing on another level, just like Willis.
Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
“Wreck-It Ralph” on the wing. Greenwood loves his try-scoring prowess and physicality.
James Lowe (Ireland)
Always influencing games with his power and booming left boot. Greenwood sees Lowe as an essential addition.
Wildcard: Feyi-Waboso Impresses
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England)
Greenwood labels Feyi-Waboso one of the most impressive athletes in the squad. Scoring tries against the All Blacks in three consecutive Tests proves he’s no flat-track bully.
Squad Breakdown: Ireland Dominates Early Selections
- Ireland: 13
- Scotland: 12
- England: 9
- Wales: 3
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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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