With the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia fast approaching, former England centre Will Greenwood has named his ideal squad for the Telegraph.
Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
Greenwood’s selections blend experience, physicality, and flair, ensuring the Lions have the firepower to challenge the Wallabies.
Below, we break down his squad by position, highlighting his key insights on each selection.
You can now use the Telegraph’s squad selector tool to see if you can pick a better squad
Will Greenwood’s British & Irish Lions squad:
Props
Greenwood has selected a dynamic group of props, focusing on power, mobility, and technical ability. Ellis Genge is tipped to be a major figure, with Greenwood stating, “I just feel as though Genge could be a central character of a strong Lions narrative.” Andrew Porter is hailed as “hugely consistent” and one of the best looseheads in the game.
Bevan Rodd earns his place as “a perfect loosehead prop for a tour to Australia.” Pierre Schoeman has been instrumental for Scotland, while Zander Fagerson is regarded as “perhaps the best footballer of all these props.” Greenwood sees Tadhg Furlong as a game-changer, calling him “a mark of class,” and Will Stuart is an underrated option who has impressed “quietly” for some time.
Props selected: Ellis Genge, Andrew Porter, Bevan Rodd, Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Will Stuart.
Hookers
Greenwood values aggression and reliability in his hooker selections. Ewan Ashman is praised for his fearless approach, with Greenwood stating, “I like Ashman’s style, his aggression.” Ronan Kelleher may have played second fiddle to Dan Sheehan, but Greenwood insists, “He has still featured in some huge wins for Leinster and Ireland.” Dan Sheehan is simply “so integral to Ireland becoming the best team in the world.”
Hookers selected: Ewan Ashman, Ronan Kelleher, Dan Sheehan.
WIN A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA TO WATCH THE LIONS:
- 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.
IRELAND CUSTOMERS LEARN MORE HERE
Second Row
Greenwood’s locks bring a mix of experience, brute force, and tactical nous. Tadhg Beirne remains a crucial player, as Greenwood notes, “A year ago, he would have been the first name on the Test teamsheet.” Scott Cummings is described as “consistently excellent,” despite flying under the radar. Maro Itoje is a near-guaranteed selection, with Greenwood stating, “You cannot downplay the importance of that experience.”
Joe McCarthy is included for his sheer size, with Greenwood observing, “Every now and then, you just need a big lump.” George Martin is valued for his unseen work, as Greenwood says, “To balance a pack, you need half of your forwards doing things that do not catch the eye.”
Second rows selected: Tadhg Beirne, Scott Cummings, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, George Martin.
