Eight from England, five Irish and two Scots – how the 2029 Lions team is shaping up four years out
I was tasked with picking a I was tasked with picking a Lions team to take on New Zealand in 2029. And so, giving myself the criteria of selecting players currently under 30 who would be in pole position, these are the 15 who could topple the All Blacks.
In 2025, we have not yet seen the best of Kinghorn − although, after a few errors against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, the Scot was strong off the bench in the second Test and started the third. A year younger than Hugo Keenan, Kinghorn (28) has the potential to go from strength to strength in the coming years. Playing club rugby at Toulouse helps, too.
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Irish Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland star has Lions teammates in stitches after brutal putdown
The British and Lions tours are famous for behind the scenes access to players and coaches. Quite often, some of the most memorable moments of Lions tours comes from the documentary episodes as players from four different nations come together as one squad. The 2025 Lions tour, under the leadership of Irish boss Andy Farrell, featured 11 Irish players including Leinster's Josh van der Flier. The 2022 world player of the year failed to make a test appearance but he has absolutely nailed Welsh captain Jac Morgan in the final part of the Ultimate Test' docu-series. That YouTube series has taken fans behind the curtain on the 2025 tour. As part of the final episode, viewers were able to see what was happening on the team coach to the stadium ahead of the last game. Reading out suggestions for the 'Barry Crocker' (shocker) award, Van der Flier read out Morgan's message. The Wales captain and Lions teammate's text read: "Alright Josh, boy? You should do yourself for Barry Crocker for being the only Leinster player in the original squad not to get named in the Test team!" As Van der Flier mouthed "Ooo", the players laughed in response, with Jamie George and James Lowe lapping up the sledging. However, the Irish flanker had a very sharp and witty retort. "That's very rich from a man who's won more games for the Lions than he has for club and country this year!" he hit back. There was a massive roar from the players, with Ellis Genge's fist flying in the air, exchanging a smile with buddy Morgan, who was sat right next to Van der Flier. However, this wasn't the only bit of banter dished out by Morgan, who quipped via text: "Alright Josh, boy? Any ideas for the Barry Crocker? I was thinking we do Bundee Aki for being 37 years old and his highest academic achievement is the World Rugby Anti-Doping module." The Lions wrapped up the series against Australia after the second Test, winning with a game to spare for the first time since 1997 against South Africa. The docu-series has given fans a number of other highlights and insights. Ireland's Dan Sheehan revealed that he has struck up a surprising bromance with England's Ellis Genge, with the Leinster man admitting he was surprised to learn that the prop was 'not a d******d'.
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Rassie Erasmus aims brutal comeback at Virgin Media pundit after his South Africa Lions Tour jibe
Erasmus referred back to when Williams presided over a Six Nations rival of Ireland's between 2003-2005 TAKE MATT Rassie Erasmus aims brutal comeback at Virgin Media pundit after his South Africa Lions Tour jibe THE dust has begun to settle on the 2025 Lions Tour of Australia with opinions split on whether it was good, bad or indifferent. A 2-1 series win for the British and Irish all-star squad epitomises the middling sense most rugby fans have come away from it with. Advertisement 4 Matt Williams is on the more positive side of the debate Credit: @offtheball 4 Rassie Erasmus has cultivated an image of himself as a serial winner Credit: AP 4 Which the South African boss used to his advantage while responding to Williams 4 These days the 65-year-old is primarily known on these shores as a Virgin Media analyst Credit: @VMSportIE A 3-0 series sweep would've at least ensured there was a more historic component to beating one of the weaker Australian teams in living memory. This is because was the last time a Lions selection went unbeaten while on Tour. The Aviva Stadium opener on June 20 where they lost to Argentina technically didn't count since they hadn't touched down on Australian soil yet. But in any case, Sunday's lightning-interrupted letdown allowed the Wallabies to salvage some pride with a 22-12 victory. Advertisement The visitors' presence Down Under reportedly hasn't gripped the nation given rugby union is far behind the likes of Aussie Rules and rugby league in the pecking order. But it has at least erased the Australian rugby union's sizeable debts to the tune of an approximate $100m. Aussie Matt Williams has also made the case that it was a better spectacle than its predecessor - a trudge of kick-tennis between the Lions and South Africa in front of no crowds due to the pandemic. He told Off the Ball: "The 2021 South Africa Tour were the worst games of international rugby I think I've ever seen. Advertisement "The way both management teams, the off field teams, conducted themselves was disgraceful. "Rassie was running on the field as a water carrier and leaking videos criticising referees, ringing people up. Ireland rugby ace dressed as 'Fred Flintstone' stuns pub crowd in Mayo with stunning accordion performance on stag night "The style of rugby was an abomination, all they did was kick across the field and chase. It was not played in a good spirit. 'It was aggressive, I have no problem with it being aggressive but it wasn't played in the spirit of rugby. Advertisement 'The Lions are the keepers of the law. They are so special, and they got to keep going, but to suggest that this Lions Tour didn't restore that absolutely tarnished image of what it meant to play Lions rugby is just a fallacy. 'They came to Australia, and from the first second, Andy Farrell and his coaching staff made the Lions play a running game. "They put the ball in hand, they took chances and made errors, because it's high-risk rugby but jeez, it was entertaining. It was fabulous to watch. 'The Lions can be very proud that they took that and restored their image on the field.' Advertisement Williams has been an ardent critic in the past when it comes to Erasmus' effective if blunt playing style with the former arguing World Rugby ought to try out new rules to negate the ever-growing importance of scrums. So it wasn't altogether surprising to see his latest criticism had drawn a reaction from Springboks supporters - and Erasmus himself. The former Munster chief took aim at Williams' paltry winning percentage when in charge of the Scotland national team while sarcastically adding: "Hello Sir Matt."
RTÉ News
21 hours ago
- RTÉ News
RTÉ Rugby podcast: Lions fail to sweep up, Ireland gear up for World Cup
Michael Glennon is joined by Jonny Holland and Johne Murphy to review Saturday's final Test between the Lions and Australia in Sydney, while Hannah O'Connor is on to discuss Ireland's win over Scotland in the World Cup warm-up. We reviewed all the talking points of the mad-cap dead rubber that turned out to be nothing like a dead rubber as the Wallabies salvaged some pride from the series. The panel give their view on Dan Sheehan's clearout, which led to a three-game band for the Ireland hooker. With Ireland in the middle of a double-header of World Cup warm-up games, we assess where they are in their bid to make a dent in Pool C and beyond.
