Ben Curry hits out at Lions fans after ‘gobsmacking' criticism of twin's selection

Telegraph

18-07-2025

Ben Curry has hit out at critics of brother Tom's British and Irish Lions selection for Saturday's first Test in an impassioned defence of his identical twin.
Ben, the older by 90 minutes, is on England duty in Washington, where Steve Borthwick's side face the United States in their final match of the season.
But he has followed closely events in Brisbane and, in particular, the fallout on social media from head coach Andy Farrell's decision to prefer Tom to Jac Morgan at openside flanker.
So angered has he been by some of the comments that he questions whether those making them are actually Lions supporters at all.
'There's been a lot of outside criticism which I'm really disappointed about,' said the Sale Sharks captain. 'You'd think people would be Lions supporters, but it doesn't seem so from looking at social media.
'Some of it is gobsmacking. Tom can't say anything about it, obviously, but I think it's incredibly disappointing. Are you Lions supporters or not? That's what gets me.'
Farrell explained that picking Tom gives the team the balance the Lions require for the series opener but admitted the call over Morgan was 'as close as you could imagine'.
It means the Lions head into a Test without a single Welshman in their squad for the first time since 1896, a fact which has only fed the fire online.
Curry is seen as a 'Test match animal' but Morgan has played the house down on this tour and is undoubtedly unfortunate to miss out.
'Tom is a proper glue player and a lot of people won't understand that. He's incredibly selfless, a big game player. You don't get that often,' explained Ben Curry.
'In a rugby team when you look around the circle, look people in the eyes, he's number one on the list of those you want next to you. If I was in that side I wouldn't want to play with anyone else.'
Tom, the 62-cap England flanker, started all three Tests for the 2021 Lions in South Africa. He has played in a World Cup final, captained his country and been shortlisted for world player of the year.
Ben says he is '100 per cent' certain the criticism will bring the best out of his brother on rugby's biggest stage.
'I'm incredibly proud of how Tom has gone about his business, how he has dealt with everyone and everything on the outside,' he added. 'The way he's handled it and the way he's played has been unbelievably professional.'