Neil Treacy

RTÉ Sport Journalist

19 July 2025; British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje, left, and Joe McCarthy before the first test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

McCarthy out but nine Irish to start second Lions Test

Andy Farrell is backing his Irish stars to deliver a series win, naming an incredible nine Irish players in his starting team for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies in Melbourne.

British and Irish Lions • 24 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 will be given final chance to prove fitness

It looks like Joe McCarthy will be given the opportunity to test out his injury when the Lions squad train at Xavier College in the city-suburb of Kew, with Andy Farrell set to name his side shortly after.

British and Irish Lions • 23 Jul

22 July 2025; Tom Clarkson of British & Irish Lions with friends from his home club, Wicklow RFC, Ronan Quinn, Mark Fleming and George Dowling after the tour match between First Nations & Pasifika XV and the British & Irish Lions at Marvel Stadium in Melb

Italian call a distant memory for new Lion Clarkson

As Thomas Clarkson stood in Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, clutching his newly minted British and Irish Lions cap, he reflected on a sliding doors moment from two years earlier.

British and Irish Lions • 23 Jul

Lions take on 'The G' in Australia's footy heartland

While rugby union is fighting a losing battle, the Lions have found themselves in one of the world's great sporting cities.

British and Irish Lions • 23 Jul

MELBOURNE , Australia - 22 July 2025; Garry Ringrose of British & Irish Lions before the tour match between First Nations & Pasifika XV and the British & Irish Lions at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty I

Ringrose hoping Marvel cameo can put him Test picture

While Garry Ringrose got 63 minutes under his belt in the British and Irish Lions' 24-19 win against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, it was perhaps more than he, and Andy Farrell had bargained for.

British and Irish Lions • 24 Jul

22 July 2025; British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell before the tour match between First Nations & Pasifika XV and the British & Irish Lions at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Farrell demands more for 'biggest game of our lives'

Andy Farrell says he will finalise his second Test selection on Wednesday, ahead of what he expects to be the "biggest game of our lives" against the Wallabies on Saturday.

British and Irish Lions • 24 Jul

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

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