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Owen Farrell becomes Sky Sports pundit: What does this mean for the Lions?
Owen Farrell has not been selected for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour but will join the Sky Sports team.
Owen Farrell becomes Sky Sports pundit: What does this mean for the Lions?
June 14, 2025 brings both joy and disappointment for Owen Farrell and the rugby world. The talented player has been left out of the 38-man squad for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. However, he is not in front of the camera, but will be active as part of the Sky Sports broadcast team.
How Jerk reports, Farrell's colleagues at Sky Sports include prominent pundits such as Will Greenwood, Ronan O'Gara, Conor Murray and Sam Warburton, who is considered a two-time Lions captain. The team is rounded off by Dan Biggar, who ended his international career in 2023, and the presenter Alex Payne. The coverage promises an immersive experience, including augmented reality graphics and broadcast in 4K Ultra HD.
Coaching and team selection
Andy Farrell, the Lions' head coach and Owen Farrel's father, had previously confirmed that his son was "in conversation" for the tour but was not selected. In an interview, he praised the talented fly-halves in the squad: Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, who are known for their versatility. The final selection of the squad was delayed due to the depth of talent, highlighting the level and choices of the coaches.
The tour begins with an opening game against Argentina on June 20th and ends with the final friendly against the Wallabies on August 2nd. There are 21 strikers and 17 backs in a total of 38 players.
| position | player |
|---|---|
| Strikers (21) | Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje (c), Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier. |
| Backs (17) | Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Tomos Williams. |
Support for the players
During the tour, the players are supported not only by their coaches, but also by their partners. England players' WAGs, including Beth Dolling, Marcus Smith's girlfriend, and Mimi Fall, captain Maro Itoje's newlywed wife, will also be on hand. Itoje proposed to Mimi during a trip to Nigeria and Ghana in August 2024, which made the wedding in London on May 25, 2025 all the more remarkable.
Sky Sports will exclusively broadcast all matches on the tour in Great Britain and Ireland. The anticipation for the associated reporting is high, especially after the criticism of the squad selection and the possibility that Owen Farrell could possibly be called up at a later date.
Overall, the rugby world faces an exciting time as the Lions hope to give their best in Australia, despite the setbacks and challenges to overcome.