Henry Pollock has been included in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer, capping a remarkable rise for the Northampton back-rower, but there is no place for Owen Farrell or another former England captain Jamie George.
Pollock, 20, is the standout name in Andy Farrell’s 38-man squad that, as revealed by the Guardian, iscaptained by Maro Itoje. When his name was read out by the Lions chairman, Ieuan Evans, at a live event at the O2 in front of around 2,000 spectators, Pollock received by far the largest cheer.
Owen Farrell is inevitably the most eye-catching omission with Ireland’s Sam Prendergast close behind. The 33-year-old Farrell has been struggling for form for Racing 92 this season but given his pedigree as a three-times Lion, his father Andy will surely have been tempted to include him. George’s omission from the contingent of hookers is also a surprise.
Without Owen Farrell or Prendergast, England’s Marcus Smith is another significant inclusion given he lost his place in Steve Borthwick’s side during the Six Nations but has the ability to play fullback which could well have counted in his favour. Fin Smith and Scotland’s Finn Russell complete the fly-half grouping ensuring George Ford misses out once more.
The Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn is the only player based in the Top 14 selected, meaning his Toulouse team-mate Jack Willis misses out along with Scotland scrum-half Ben White, Kyle Sinckler and David Ribbans. Despite fears that Farrell may overlook Wales players entirely, the flanker and national captain, Jac Morgan, and the scrum-half Tomos Williams are both included. Wales’s contingent of two is dwarfed by Ireland’s 15 and England’s 13. Scotland provide eight players. Irish side Leinster alone supply a record 12 tourists.
Pollock has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign since helping England under-20s win the junior World Cup last summer and fulfils the role of “bolter” with only one senior international appearance to his name. His form for Northampton in Europe earned him a nomination for the Champions Cup player of the year award while he made his England debut in the emphatic Six Nations victory over Wales in Cardiff, scoring two tries from the bench.
Last weekend Pollock scored a stunning solo try in Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster and though back-row is one of the most competitive positions, Farrell has been convinced the flanker warrants a place on the plane. As the youngest member of the squad he will get the honour of carrying the Lions mascot throughout the tour. Pollock is joined in the squad by Northampton team-mates Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell.
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Andy Farrell’s decision to omit son Owen is understandable given he has not played Test rugby since the 2023 World Cup. He has struggled for fitness this season and it is unclear whether he would have even wanted to go on the tour of Australia given the reasons for which he brought an end to his England career. That both he and Ireland’s up-and-coming fly-half Prendergast have been omitted, however, demonstrates Andy Farrell’s determination to pick the best and most in-form players available.
George, Willis, Prendergast and Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie are among the players who can consider themselves unfortunate to miss out. George was a tourist in 2013 and 2017 but lost out to Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher. Willis is absent with Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Josh van der Flier, Morgan, Ben Earl and Pollock selected as the back-rowers. Ollie Chessum and Tadhg Beirne are among the locks selected along with Scotland’s Scott Cummings, Itoje, James Ryan and Joe McCarthy.
Elliot Daly is picked for his third straight tour - Tadhg Furlong reaches the same milestone - while Scotland’s captain Sione Tuipulotu is included despite missing the Six Nations with a chest injury. He is yet to make his comeback but was in fine form before injury struck. Of the 38 selected, 26 will go on their first Lions tour.