Following the unveiling of the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia on Thursday, we’ve picked a starting XV of the unluckiest players to miss out, either through injury or non-selection. Although these players haven’t initially been named to travel Down Under, there’s a solid chance that at least a handful will yet receive a call up given the amount of injuries likely to occur by the time of the Lions’ first game against Argentina on 20 June.
Front rankers: Nicky Smith; Dewi Lake (both Wales) and Finlay Bealham (Ireland)
Leicester Tigers loosehead Smith has racked up over 50-Test matches for Wales since debuting in 2014, but his scrummaging prowess has been overlooked in favour of the talents of Ellis Genge, Andrew Porter and Pierre Schoeman. Ospreys hooker Lake, whose tireless performances for club and country have earned him much admiration, is also snubbed, and so is Connacht’s Bealham, who misses out on a return to his homeland.
Second row: Courtney Lawes (England) and Dafydd Jenkins (Wales)
36-year-old Test centurion Lawes earned five Test caps for the Lions during their 2017 and 2021 tours, but his performances for French Pro D2 outfit Brive this season haven’t been enough to sway Andy Farrell. Welsh workhorse Jenkins made the second-most tackles (78) during this year’s Six Nations but, at just 22, still has time on his side to become a Lion.
Loose trio: Rory Darge (Scotland); Jack Willis (England) and Caelan Doris (Ireland)
Despite topping the charts for cleanouts (45), Darge did not have the greatest Six Nations campaign for Scotland, but his quality is undeniable and it’s a shame we may not see him in Lions red this year. Willis may be exiled from the England national setup, but he’s been tearing up trees for Toulouse and could be the unluckiest non-selection on this entire list.
Meanwhile, Doris’ absence is down to the shoulder injury he picked up in the Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints on the weekend. The mighty Leinsterman was universally tipped to be the tour skipper and nailed-on No 8 starter for Farrell, and it’s a huge shame he won’t be on that plane.
Halfbacks: Ben White (Scotland) and Sam Prendergast (Ireland)
In all likelihood, Toulon’s White came out second best in a straight shootout with Tomos Williams for the squad’s third scrumhalf berth. Wunderkind Prendergast’s absence is another good shout for the biggest omission, especially given his time under Farrell in the Ireland national setup. Considering the hype coming out of Dublin surrounding the youngster, it was a bit of a bombshell not to hear Ieuan Evans call out his name on Thursday.
Midfield: Owen Farrell (England) and Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
Three-time tourist Farrell may not be having the best debut season in the Top 14, but his presence in the squad would have been huge for the group dynamics given what he has achieved in the game. Henshaw, one of the standouts during the tour to South Africa four years ago, is in the twilight of his career but will be another handy standby.
Back three: Blair Murray (Wales) Darcy Graham (Scotland) and Freddie Steward (England)
New Zealand-born Murray was good for Wales during an otherwise nightmarish Six Nations campaign, while Steward has blown hot and cold for England over the past season or so and would also have been in the Lions selection frame. However, Graham’s absence is by far the most glaring of the three, with the classy Edinburgh winger proving time and again just how lethal he is out wide. What a shame.
Unlucky XV
1. Nicky Smith
2. Dewi Lake
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. Rory Darge
7. Jack Willis
8. Caelan Doris
9. Ben White
10. Sam Prendergast
11. Blair Murray
12. Owen Farrell
13. Robbie Henshaw
14. Darcy Graham
15. Freddie Steward
