Andy Farrell sends ominous three word message to son Owen Farrell ahead of Lions tour
Rugby NewsWednesday, 09 April 2025 at 10:17
– and his picks are bound to raise a few eyebrows.
Andy Farrell has made it crystal clear that not even a shared surname guarantees a spot on the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour — and that includes his own son.
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The newly-appointed Lions boss is already facing awkward questions over whether he’ll include veteran fly-half Owen Farrell in his squad for the trip to Australia. And his icy response has only added fuel to the fire.
Owen Farrell – The Veteran Out in the Cold?
Once a nailed-on selection, Owen Farrell finds himself in unfamiliar territory.
Having stepped away from England duty and made the leap to Racing 92 in the French Top 14, the 32-year-old is no longer in the international spotlight — and his performances so far have been a mixed bag.
Having stepped away from England duty and made the leap to Racing 92 in the French Top 14, the 32-year-old is no longer in the international spotlight — and his performances so far have been a mixed bag.
A three-time Lions tourist (2013, 2017, 2021) and captain on the last tour to South Africa, his résumé is stacked. Over 100 England caps. European titles. World Cup finals. But form? That's another matter.
Andy Farrell – The Coach With a Ruthless Streak
Andy Farrell, for all his warmth off the pitch, is a stone-cold operator when it comes to selection.
The former dual-code international and 2009 Lions tourist has earned a reputation as one of the sharpest minds in the game. After guiding Ireland to a Grand Slam and a world number one ranking, his appointment as Lions head coach felt inevitable.
But now comes the tricky part: proving that blood ties won’t cloud his judgment.
It’s not the first time he’s had to walk this tightrope. Back in 2013, when he was part of Warren Gatland’s Lions staff, Andy reportedly encouraged Gatland to select Jonny Wilkinson over Owen. Wilkinson declined, and Owen got the nod — but the message was clear then, and it’s even clearer now.
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
Ben Calveley: Geography Isn’t a Barrier
Lions CEO Ben Calveley was quick to shut down concerns about Owen’s French adventure.
“We don’t have a policy that closes off anyone from being selected,” he confirmed. “Finn Russell was based in France in 2021. Will Greenwood toured in ’97 without being a regular international at the time.”
“We don’t have a policy that closes off anyone from being selected,” he confirmed. “Finn Russell was based in France in 2021. Will Greenwood toured in ’97 without being a regular international at the time.”
In short: where you play doesn’t matter. How you play does.
The Three Words That Say It All
When pushed on whether he could realistically leave his own son out of the squad, Andy didn’t flinch.
“It’s about form.” said Farrell before adding: "it’s about watching the game properly. Selection is the same as for everyone else. No different,”
That, right there, might be the coldest message a father could send to his son — and the most important message a Lions coach could send to the rugby world.
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Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions
Wales legend Dan Biggar has officially called time on his playing career, but not before dropping a blockbuster British & Irish Lions XV on The Rugby Pod
The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton’s podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there's no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.
Here’s how Biggar’s team shaped up…
Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
It’s an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster's dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.
Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne
4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne
5. Tadhg Beirne
England’s Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He’s paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.
Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)
6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England’s Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland’s Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who’s fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.
Livewire half-backs: Gibson-Park & Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
10. Finn Russell
Gone are the days of conservative Lions 9-10 combos. Biggar’s gone full jazz here. Gibson-Park brings the zip, and Russell… well, Russell brings the flair. The Scotland maestro’s creativity earns him the No.10 jersey over Biggar himself – no ego here.
Fire on the flanks: Lowe & Kinghorn
11. James Lowe
14. Blair Kinghorn
14. Blair Kinghorn
Two versatile Scots fill the wing slots, with Kinghorn’s blend of size and speed complementing Lowe’s relentless work rate and booming left boot. Biggar clearly values adaptability out wide – and a bit of flair never hurts.
Caledonian connection in midfield: Tuipulotu & Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
13. Huw Jones
The Glasgow Warriors pairing have formed one of the deadliest centre combos in rugby, and Biggar’s kept them together. It’s a bold call, but one based on form and synergy rather than reputation alone.
Rock-solid fullback: Hugo Keenan
15. Hugo Keenan
No surprise here – Keenan has been Ireland’s Mr Consistent, and Biggar trusts him to be the safety net at the back. His positioning, aerial ability and counter-attacks make him a nailed-on pick.
The bench: a mix of muscle and mischief
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Zander Fagerson, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith
It’s a stacked bench with serious impact. Genge and Fagerson bring brute force, while Earl and Morgan cover the back row with pace and punch. Marcus Smith adds some stardust, and Mitchell offers serious tempo at
TOUGH QUIZ: Can you name EVERY British & Irish Lions captain of the past 50 Years?
To make this a little bit more difficult, some of the more recent tours included multiple captains, with both needed to be named if you want to ace this Lions Tour quiz. You have six minutes to get all of your answers down, and your time starts... Now!
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