HOOKERS
Starting XV: Jamie George (England and Saracens) (Captain)
Replacement: Dan Sheehan (Ireland and Leinster)
Non-Test: Dewi Lake (Wales and Ospreys)
We move on to the hookers now, with England captain Jamie George a comfortable pick to take the lead as the Lions first choice. The Saracen has grown into a tremendous leader of men since Steve Borthwick appointed him captain, following the exit of Owen Farrell last year. George has captained long been a leader at Saracens and has even captained the Lions once before, as he led the mid-week team against the Sharks in Durban, South Africa.
Warren Gatland preferred former Wales captain Ken Owens at hooker for the 2021 tour, with George’s Test match experience in the red jersey coming against New Zealand in 2017. George is certainly in contention for the Lions’ captaincy and is our pick to lead the tour, with plenty of conversations expected between Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick ahead of the solidified decision next year.
The two other options for hookers look to youthful exuberance, as Ireland’s Dan Sheehan and Wales’ Dewi Lake both play with a veteran’s experience despite both being just 25-years-old. Starting with Sheehan, the Leinster man is a real try-scoring threat from the back of a rolling maul, and was an instrumental figure in Leinster’s run to the Investec Champions Cup Final this past season.
Dewi Lake continues to grow as a leader, and recently captained Wales in the two match Summer series against South Africa. The Osprey is fighting off all teammates to the Welsh two jersey, after he battled back from a hamstring injury and missing the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. Whilst Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee both pose contention to the Wales hooker spot, the pair fall short when compared to Dewi Lake, who is our pick to be the third-string Lions hooker.
LOCKS
Starting XV – Maro Itoje (England and Saracens)
Starting XV – James Ryan (Ireland and Leinster) – (Vice Captain)
Onto the engine room of the 2025 Lions scrum, and we have opted for two men that could well be selected to lead the Lions as the tour captains. Both England’s Maro Itoje and Ireland’s James Ryan have put their hands up in contention for the armband, and we can see Farrell favouring his familiarity with Ryan to take a Lions leadership role. Ryan has been a pillar of the Leinster pack since his first appearence for the province in 2017, and was also an important voice in Ireland’s 2023 and 2024 Guinness Six Nations title triumphs.
Itoje is amongst the first names on the team-sheet with his evergreen tenacity taking him back to his very best throughout the 2023/24 season. Itoje completed a marathon of matches throughout the latest campaign with Saracens and England, as he racked up a total of 33 fixtures, and was named to start in each and every one. The lock was at his barn-storming best on England’s recent tour of Japan and New Zealand with key involvements including a try and countless turnovers against the All Blacks.
Itoje took his hosts to their very limit for the full 80 minutes in Dunedin, and we expect more of the same for his third tour with the Lions. Itoje rose to prominence as the youngest ever Lion upon the 2017 tour to New Zealand, as has grown into a formidable leader and match-winning lock for England and Saracens.
James Ryan is yet to experience the British & Irish Lions stage, but with 67 Ireland caps and counting the lock has been entrusted with leadership roles as well. With two real leaders of men packing down the engine room, expect some Alun Wyn Jones-esque team talks to fire up the pack.
Replacement – Dafydd Jenkins (Wales and Exeter Chiefs)
Taking the number 19 shirt of our selected match day 23, we hope to see Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins book a spot on the upcoming tour. Whilst we don’t expect the Exeter Chiefs man to shift Itoje or Ryan out of a spot in the Lions Test match starting XV, Jenkins’ leadership qualities bring the best out of his teammates, and the 6ft 7 21-year-old would make his presence felt in Australia.
Jenkins was unfortunate to miss out on the recent Summer tour against the Wallabies, as the fixtures were played outside of World Rugby’s international window, and the Exeter Chiefs man had maxed out his on-field minutes for the season. The same happened to Jenkins’ club and country teammate Christ Tshuinza, with the towering forwards unavailable for Australia. For a burst of adrenaline and uncontainable passion for the Welsh or Lions red jersey, Jenkins would be an exciting inclusion for Andy Farrell’s plans.
Non Test – George Martin (England and Leicester Tigers)
Non Test – Tadhg Beirne (Ireland and Munster)
Non Test – Scott Cummings (Scotland and Glasgow Warriors)
Looking further at the depth charts for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour, and we’ve selected a trio of additional locks that could bolster the touring pack for the mid-week matches. Any paired combination of George Martin, Tadhg Berine and Scott Cummings would have a profound impact upon Australia’s Super Rugby sides, with the three locks bringing different elements to the touring table.
Starting with Martin, there is no keeping secret what the Leicester Tigers man does better than anyone else on the pitch. Throwing caution to the wind with a reckless abandonment to his own safety, Martin puts in monstrous hits time and again, as he flys at the bodies of the heaviest ball carriers. Reminiscent of England’s former Mad Dog Lewis Moody, Martin’s tackling technique is second to none, and never fails to get a lift out of the Leicester of England faithful.
Tadhg Beirne brings an astute awareness of the intricacies at the breakdown, and is often seen taking the plaudits of an expertly timed turnover. A maestro when winning the ball at the deck, Beirne couples his 6ft 6 frame with the knowledge of rugby’s ‘dark arts’, as the experienced 32-year-old knows how to steal the ball.
Scott Cummings has similar experience to Beirne, with the lock providing a commanding role at the set-piece for Scotland. The Glasgow man enjoyed an unforgettable 2023/24 season with his club, as the Warriors went all the way to win the United Rugby Championship, with Cummings critical to the pack’s performance against the Bulls in Pretoria. Five starts in the 2024 Six Nations adds an abundance of international experience to the 27-year-old’s resume, as he takes the torch from Gray twins in the Scottish second row.