Key events
Preamble
Lions szn is officially here. The first Test against Australia in Brisbane is just over a couple of months away, and the curtain-raiser against Argentina in Dublin will be upon us in six weeks’ time.
This is the biggest milestone on the road to opening night, as Andy Farrell picks an expected 40-man squad from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales’ finest. It’ll be a career highlight for many players, and a day of great disappointment for others.
Maro Itoje is set to be named captain for the Lions’ first tour since South Africa in 2021. Many of his England colleagues, including Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith and George Ford, face a nervous wait to see if they make the cut. Farrell Sr is forecast to pick 22 forwards and 18 backs.
We’ll get the full lowdown at 1.30pm BST, when Lions chairman (and former tour winner Down Under) Ieuan Evans announces the squad. There’ll be 2,000 fans gathered at the O2 to give their collective verdict, and you can let me know your predictions/selections here.
