# Wales Rugby Stars Await Lions Call from Afar
Excitement is mounting across the rugby world as Andy Farrell prepares to reveal the highly anticipated British and Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour of Australia. For many players, this announcement marks the pinnacle of achievement, as names are unveiled in a spectacle watched by thousands. However, for the Welsh hopefuls, this year’s squad reveal promises to be an experience quite unlike any other.
On Thursday, over 2,000 supporters will pack London’s O2 Arena, generating an electric atmosphere as former Wales wing Ieuan Evans, now Lions Chair and tour manager, prepares to announce the chosen few. This high-profile event echoes previous squads’ announcements, where former captains and senior figures have delivered the news to a captivated audience both in the room and watching at home.
Central to this year’s proceedings is the expectation that the new Lions captain will be physically present in London. Past tours have seen stars like Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones immediately thrust into the media spotlight, meeting both press and fans as the touring party’s new leader. Recent circumstances, however, could bring a notable change. With Caelan Doris, a likely contender for the armband, now an injury doubt, speculation has intensified around England’s Maro Itoje stepping into the role.
For Wales captain Jac Morgan, however, an immediate appearance in London seems improbable, even if he is selected as skipper. The Ospreys and the other Welsh regional sides are currently undertaking their final stretch of United Rugby Championship fixtures in South Africa, meaning Morgan and his compatriots will be thousands of miles from the action, discovering their fate on the move.
Adding to this year’s intrigue, all Welsh teams have travelled with a Lions jersey ready and waiting, anticipating celebratory photographs should any of their players be called up. Furthermore, earlier in the year, every member of Wales’s Six Nations squad posed in Lions kit, captured by a social media firm eager to prepare for instant online celebrations.
Yet, much about how and where the Welsh players will hear the news remains uncertain. In recent seasons, clubs have staged communal viewings of the announcement, often filming reactions for supporters back home. This year, logistical challenges abound, with some Welsh clubs scheduled for internal flights within South Africa at the very moment Evans reads out the names. There seems a very real possibility that players could learn of their selection while on a team coach en route from the airport to their hotel.
Thankfully, organisers have prioritised global access, confirming that the Lions’ YouTube announcement will not be geoblocked. As such, players and fans across continents will be able to share in the moment simultaneously, even if time zones and travel schedules conspire against a more traditional viewing party.
Lions officials hope to seize these unique circumstances, aiming to capture live reactions from across the globe as names are announced. The O2 event itself, to be hosted by Lee McKenzie and former Lion Ugo Monye, is set to feature an array of distinguished guests offering their insights and opinions as the 2025 touring side comes together.
As always, the selection of the British and Irish Lions stirs intense national pride and individual ambition, with a coveted red jersey representing one of the highest honours in rugby. This year, as technology and circumstance force new approaches, the shared joy—and disappointment—of squad selection will feel more global than ever.
For the Welsh rugby faithful, the anticipation will be tinged with hope as they await news from far afield, united in support of their countrymen striving to make the cut. Whether in crowded London halls, hotel lounges in South Africa, or living rooms across the world, fans and players alike will soon discover which of Wales’s best will represent the Lions down under this summer.
The story of these selections, and the journey that follows, promises to be both unique and unforgettable in the rich history of the British and Irish Lions.