Neil Treacy

RTÉ Sport Journalist

22 July 2025; Jamie Osborne of British & Irish Lions, right, celebrates with teammates Garry Ringrose and Duhan van der Merwe after scoring their side's third try during the tour match between First Nations & Pasifika XV and the British & Irish Lions at M

Osborne on double as disjointed Lions limp over line

Jamie Osborne scored two tries on his Lions debut but Andy Farrell's side were sluggish and clunky as they held off a scratch First Nations and Pasifika side 24-19 in front of a subdued 30,420 at Marvel Stadium.

British and Irish Lions • 23 Jul

15 July 2025; Jamie Osborne during a British & Irish Lions squad training session at the Churchie School in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

'Every player dreams of it' - Osborne's Lions debut

Just over 12 months on from making his Test debut for Ireland in the cauldron of Loftus Versfeld, Jamie Osborne is about to become a British and Irish Lion.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

19 July 2025; Joe McCarthy of British & Irish Lions leaves the pitch upon being substituted during the first test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

McCarthy and Hansen sit out training in Melbourne

Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen both sat out training in Melbourne on Monday, but the British and Irish Lions are hopeful both players will be available for Saturday's second Test against Australia.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

9 July 2025; Garry Ringrose of British & Irish Lions during the tour match between ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia. Photo by Steve Christo/Sportsfile

Ringrose back in Test contention for Lions

Garry Ringrose is back in contention for a place in the British and Irish Lions squad for Saturday's second Test with Australia, after being named on the bench for Tuesday's final mid-week fixture in Melbourne.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

19 July 2025; Tadhg Beirne of British & Irish Lions during the first test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Beirne: 'I did feel the pressure this week'

It only took 19 seconds of Saturday's first Test between the British and Irish Lions and Australia to realise that Tadhg Beirne was going to have himself a day.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Australia head coach Joe Schmidt checks the pitch ahead of the 1st Test Match between Australia Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on July 19, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Ima

Optimistic Schmidt 'desperate to keep the series alive'

The British and Irish Lions may have looked a level above Australia in Saturday's first Test in Brisbane, but Joe Schmidt cut an optimistic figure at Suncorp Stadium.

Rugby • 20 Jul

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Joe McCarthy of the British and Irish Lions leaves the field during game one of the series between Australia Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on July 19, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron S

Brown called up as Lions sweat on McCarthy knock

Gregor Brown is the latest player to be called up by the British and Irish Lions, as head coach Andy Farrell sweats on an injury to Joe McCarthy.

Rugby • 20 Jul

19 July 2025; Tadhg Furlong of British & Irish Lions during the first test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Furlong back to his best but warns of second Test swing

While Tadhg Beirne grabbed the headlines in the British and Irish Lions' commanding first Test win in Melbourne, Tadhg Furlong has also found his top form in Australia.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Tadhg Beirne of the British and Irish Lions takes the lineout during game one of the series between Australia Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on July 19, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hy

Farrell thrilled as 'immense' Beirne answers critics

Andy Farrell hailed the "immense" contributions of both Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry as the British and Irish Lions secured a commanding 27-19 win in their first Test against Australia in Brisbane.

British and Irish Lions • 19 Jul

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Tom Curry of British and Irish Lions celebrates after scoring his team's 2nd try during the 1st Test Match between Australia Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium on July 19, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Ph

Lions dominate Wallabies to claim first Test win

The British and Irish Lions opened their Test series with a comfortable 27-19 victory over Australia in Brisbane.

Rugby • 19 Jul