Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at Indigo O2

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Before the announcement, one name continues to crop up here in the media room: Owen Farrell.

The former England captain has the Lions pedigree and would be going on a fourth tour, but he’s struggled with injury this season and is short of form over in France with Racing 92.

It would be a seismic call for Andy Farrell to select his son.

Alex Cuthbert
Former Wales and Lions winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't think you can take Sam Prendergast.

As great as his attacking ability is at the line, his defence is a real liability and Australia coach Joe Schmidt will be clued into that.

His tackle completion is way, way too low to be chosen.

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Ugo Monye
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

That [performance against Northampton Saints] must have been the worst from Sam Prendergast this season.

You can forgive missed kicks at goal, but there was a lack of control.

He looked like he was the fly-half playing away, he couldn't impose himself on the game.

No-one missed more tackles in the Six Nations this year and, as well as being ruined by Henry Pollock, he looked non-committal in defence, making tap tackles.

He will become such a focus for an attack.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Sam Prendergast, Marcus Smith, George Ford and Owen Farrell.

All six are in with a genuine shout of making the tour.

Three fly-halves went in 2021, with three the likely number again.

Russell showed his class in the deciding third Test against the South Africa four years ago and was the frontrunner to start for the Lions, until a modest Six Nations campaign with Scotland.

Fin Smith took the 10 shirt off his namesake Marcus in the Six Nations for England and has continued that form for Northampton Saints, topping off his audition with a well-rounded and classy display against Leinster on Saturday.

Prendergast came off second best in Saturday's battle with Fin Smith, but was given his Ireland debut in November by Lions head coach Andy Farrell, who has praised the 22-year-old's high potential.

Marcus Smith, who can also play full-back, Ford and Farrell are currently not occupying England's fly-half jersey, but versatility and experience mean you can't rule them out.

Which fly-halves will go? Get your comments in.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sometimes missing a game can be safer for selection hopes than playing.

That may be the case after Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final between Leinster and Northampton Saints.

Northampton's Fin Smith, Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman all produced top performances to shock Leinster in Dublin and enhance their Lions selection hopes.

Meanwhile, Leinster failed to produced their best rugby that saw them score 142 unanswered points in their first two knockout games.

Ireland assistant coaches Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty were all initially named by Andy Farrell as part of his Lions coaching staff, with former Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton, who worked closely with Farrell in his playing days, soon following in what will be his first official coaching role after retiring in 2023.

A Leinster/Ireland heavy party was expected prior to Saturday's defeat, given their success under Farrell for Ireland, but have a few played their way out of selection?

Before the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, about 50 "save-the-date" emails were sent out by the selectors.

I'd say the top-level international players keep the summer free anyway and stop any chat about potential holidays with their families and partners.

But for those on the edge of selection, getting a letter to say you are in contention either is a fantastic buzz and compliment, or unnecessary stress.

Alongside a letter, Lions headshots for previous tours were done during the Six Nations.

Imagine wearing the famous red shirt for a headshot, receiving a letter to "save the date' and then not going?

Here is a copy of former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton's letter from 2013 - he failed to make that tour to Australia.

Image source, Jim Hamilton on X

Shane Horgan
Former Ireland wing on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Maro Itoje is the frontrunner.

You need a different type of charisma to be Lions captain because within your own nation, you can get 20 caps, build relationships with the team, become a senior player and then captain. There is none of that with the Lions.

There are lots of players you won't have a relationship with at all - you have to be 100% respected and have a bit of an aura.

Matt Dawson
2003 World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

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I would agree with the captaincy going to Maro Itoje.

There are a couple of absolute fundamentals with Lions tour captains - first and foremost they have to be in the team and for me he is, without a shadow of a doubt.

Secondly, he has to be held in that regard, not just by the coaches, but also by his team-mates as well. The players have to look at their captain and think "this guy is the man".

Thirdly, for Maro specifically, he has blossomed beautifully this season for England.

He has gone from being a player who was a certainty to be in the team, but was a bit short of the form of his early 20s and a little bit too ill-disciplined, to being right in the groove.

The captaincy has given him a new lease of life and he is ready to step into the role for the Lions.

Here we go!

Who should be on the plane? Will Andy Farrell go Ireland heavy? Who will be captain?

Any thoughts at all - just fire them in using the methods above.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

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When asked if Caelan Doris is now in a race to be fit in time for the Lions, Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber said it was "difficult" for him to "comment on the selection piece of it".

"But it'll definitely be a race," added the South African, who joined Leinster at the end of 2023.

"Shoulder injuries, depending on the amount of structural damage there is, it can be anything from a two-month thing to a four-to-six month thing so depending on the amount of damage within the shoulder joint and all the structures involved, that will determine that."

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The first announcement of captain for the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia should be pretty straightforward.

It was reported by BBC Sport late on Wednesday that England's Maro Itoje is set to be confirmed as the skipper.

The 30-year-old will become the first Englishman since Martin Johnson in 2001 to be named Lions captain, and will lead a party of about 40 players.

Itoje, who will tour with the Lions for the third time, took over the England captaincy before the 2025 Six Nations, leading them to second after four straight wins.

This comes after news that Ireland captain Caelan Doris, who was made skipper of his country by Lions head coach Andy Farrell, is a doubt for the tour after requiring a "procedure" on a shoulder injury.

It will be interesting to see if Doris, who was also linked with the role, is announced later as there is yet to be an official announcement to rule him out.

This is the order of play for today:

The official presentation will get under way at 14:00 BST, with the Lions captain revealed first.

Once that is done, we will hear the players to tour Australia.

Forwards first, alphabetical by surname, then backs, alphabetical by surname.

But, as ever with the Lions, there are likely to be players who miss this initial cut, and are called into the fray after injury.

Given the quality to pick from, being selected is seen as one of the highest individual honours a player can receive in their career.

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The day everyone in rugby union waits for has arrived.

Head coach Andy Farrell names his British and Irish Lions squad for Australia.

We're expecting there will be between 37 and 41 players named.

Lions squads are always packed full of talking points and notable omissions.

This one should be the same. Stay with us as we bring you the announcement live and analyse the biggest talking points.

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