**Leaked British & Irish Lions Squad Emerges Ahead of Official Announcement**
Speculation is swirling in the rugby world this morning as the anticipated British & Irish Lions team selection for the opening Test against Australia appears to have been leaked just hours before its scheduled announcement. Head coach Andy Farrell is expected to officially unveil his squad early on Thursday morning, UK time, yet reports from within the camp are already painting a detailed picture of who will run out in Brisbane this weekend.
Among the headline selections, England’s dynamic flanker Tom Curry is poised to claim the prized number seven jersey, seemingly edging out Wales’ Jac Morgan despite the latter’s impressive form throughout the tour. The reasoning behind Curry’s selection appears rooted in his relentless style of play and ability to disrupt breakdowns — an approach Farrell has admired openly in previous interviews.
The battle for the blindside flanker role is less clear cut, with contrasting reports regarding the final choice. Some sources suggest Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will be wearing the number six shirt, bringing his considerable experience to the back row, while others tip Ollie Chessum to start, pairing up with Jack Conan at number eight. This level of uncertainty highlights the depth of competition in the Lions’ back row department, which has been fiercely contested during the tour.
At second row, Maro Itoje of England is tipped not only to start, but to lead the squad as captain. Itoje is set to be joined in the engine room by Ireland’s emerging star, Joe McCarthy, creating a formidable combination at the heart of the Lions’ pack. The front row is expected to feature Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong, providing both power and technical strength for the set-piece battles ahead.
In the backs, the squad has had to contend with a number of injuries. Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn has reportedly failed to recover from a knee injury, clearing the way for Ireland’s Hugo Keenan to start at full-back following his standout performance against the invitation AUNZ XV. Meanwhile, with Mack Hansen also sidelined through injury, James Lowe and Tommy Freeman are set to fill in on the wings.
The centre partnership, typically an area of fierce debate, appears to feature two Scots: Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones. Their selection comes as Ireland’s Garry Ringrose is ruled out due to concussion and Bundee Aki finds himself excluded from the matchday squad. The half-back pairing is predicted to comprise Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half and the irrepressible Finn Russell at fly-half, giving the Lions a creative edge and a measured kicking game.
Notably, England’s Owen Farrell, a veteran of previous tours, is among the most high-profile players expected to be left out of the 23, with Marcus Smith likely to serve as the utility cover from the bench. The bench itself is rumoured to include Ben Earl and, depending on the starting blindside selection, either Beirne or Chessum.
Although Jac Morgan has consistently impressed during the tour, competition for places—particularly within the back row—has seen him miss out on a bench spot this time, underlining the depth of talent at Farrell’s disposal. Yet, as the head coach emphasised earlier in the tour, Curry’s reputation for tireless work both with and without the ball, and his physicality, made him extremely difficult to overlook.
As rugby fans on both sides of the equator await the official word, the likely starting XV, according to the reports, will line up as follows: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne or Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, and Jack Conan.
While nothing becomes certain until Andy Farrell unveils the final squad, these leaks offer a tantalising glimpse at how the Lions may look as they attempt to claim victory in one of rugby’s greatest contests. Following a tour marked by both strong performances and selection dilemmas, the world’s attention now turns to Brisbane, where the Lions are determined to start the campaign on a positive note.