Tadhg Beirne – Ireland
Club: Munster
Age: 33
Caps: 61
Lions: 2021 and 2025
Beirne, who plays at blind-side flanker or in the second row, came off the bench in the first and second Tests in South Africa.
The Munster captain has been one of Farrell’s go-to starters for Ireland and he will hope to be trusted from the start in red.
Ollie Chessum – England
Club: Leicester Tigers
Age: 24
Caps: 28
Lions: Debutant
Chessum is also comfortable at blind-side flanker or at lock, with his line-out ability making him a regular under Borthwick.
The Premiership winner in 2023 recently won player of the match against Italy in this year’s Six Nations.
Scott Cummings – Scotland
Club: Glasgow Warriors
Age: 28
Caps: 42
Lions: Debutant
Cummings, who scored in Glasgow’s United Rugby Championship final against South African side Bulls last year, played every minute of Scotland’s Six Nations campaign last year, but missed this year’s campaign after breaking his thumb.
The specialist lock has played only once since January after returning to action at the end of April, with his most recent Scotland appearance coming in victory over Australia in November.
Maro Itoje – England (captain)
Club: Saracens
Age: 30
Caps: 93
Lions: 2017, 2021 and 2025
Since taking over as England captain at the start of this year, Itoje has returned to his best form that saw him feature in the past six Lions Tests.
In 2017, the England lock went to New Zealand as the youngest Lions player and he now leads the team on his third tour.
Joe McCarthy – Ireland
Club: Leinster
Age: 24
Caps: 19
Lions: Debutant
The Ireland lock was pushed quickly into the Test arena, making his aggressive ball-carrying – at 6ft 6in and more than 19 stone – a point of difference after his international debut in 2022.
A player-of-the-match performance in his first Six Nations start against France last year in Marseille showed his athletic profile could match the best in the world.
James Ryan – Ireland
Club: Leinster
Age: 28
Caps: 72
Lions: Debutant
Ryan was a notable omission from the 2021 Lions squad but has been trusted by Farrell, having started every game of Ireland’s 2023 Grand Slam win.
An out-an-out lock, Ryan is known for his high workrate and leadership skills, captaining Leinster and Ireland in the past.
