Farrell keeps it in the family with Lions captaincy

Yahoo

21-07-2025

Coach Andy Farrell has named his son Owen to captain the British and Irish Lions against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Playing his 20th match for the Lions on his fourth tour, Farrell will lead the Lions for the first time as the tourists turn out at Marvel Stadium in the last of their six tour matches.
It's his first start since being drafted into the 2025 squad late as injury cover, with the 33-year-old coming off the bench in the Lions' one-sided win over the AUNZ invitational XV in Adelaide.
The Lions are 6-0 on their Australian tour, including a 27-19 victory over the Wallabies in the first Test at Brisbane last Saturday.
Backrower Ben Earl and inside backs Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith have been included in the reserves three days after being involved in the 23-man squad for the first Test.
Former England captain Farrell will partner Irishman Jamie Osborne in the centres while Scotland No.9 Ben White will combine with England's Fin Smith in the halves.
Blair Kinghorn will return from a knee injury to play fullback in an all-Scotland back three with wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.
Welsh blindside flanker Jac Morgan will start, as will exciting young England No.8 Henry Pollock.
Ireland centre Garry Ringrose has overcome concussion symptoms to take a spot on the bench.
Jamie George will start at hooker after joining the tour group from Argentina after playing with England.
Three other Scottish reinforcements -- lock Gregor Brown, hooker Ewan Ashman and prop Rory Sutherland - were named on the bench.
Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale will captain the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika team.
Andy Farrell said the match would give all players a chance to push their case for selection for the final two Tests, the second of which comes on Saturday night at the MCG.
"The coaches' minds are open when it comes to selection, they have to be with so many players performing and pushing for places," Farrell said in a statement
"This fixture gives players another opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the final two Tests.
"This group know the level of performance that we will require against a First Nations and Pasifika team that is packed with talent and power."
Lions: Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Darcy Graham (Scotland), Jamie Osborne (Ireland), Owen Farrell (England, captain), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Ben White (Scotland); Henry Pollock (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Scott Cummings (Scotland), James Ryan (Ireland), Finlay Bealham (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland). Reserves: Ewan Ashman (Scotland), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Tom Clarkson (Ireland), Gregor Brown (Scotland), Ben Earl (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Marcus Smith (England), Garry Ringrose (Ireland).