British & Irish Lions

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Zander Fagerson is relishing a second crack for the British and Irish Lions after feeling he failed to do himself justice on the 2021 tour to South Africa.

The Glasgow Warriors prop was rewarded for the remarkable consistency he has demonstrated for club and country with a place in the squad heading for Australia this summer.

Now Fagerson, 29, is targeting a spot in the Test side to face the Wallabies having been the only one of the eight Scots in the squad who failed to feature in the Test series four years ago.

"I feel like I didn't really give a great account of myself," Fagerson told BBC Scotland.

"Just a few bits and bobs on that last tour. It was probably the body. I went into it in great shape. Then I had a little bit of a niggle with that back spasm.

"I always felt, what if? There were so many good players on that tour as well. I just supported the boys wherever I could.

"I absolutely loved being part of it four years ago. I can't wait to be part of it again this time.

"To me, it's just a culmination of so many years of hard work and sacrifice. Also, it's a childhood dream. You're playing in the garden when you're a kid, you want to be a British and Irish Lion.

"To actually be able to wear the jersey before and get the opportunity again, especially in front of friends and family and in front of fans this time, it would be absolutely incredible. It's a pinch-me moment."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Image source, SNS

Pierre Schoeman said that he was full of cheers and tears when he made Andy Farrell's Lions squad bound for Australia next month.

"I'm feeling extremely proud and grateful as well," said the Edinburgh and Scotland prop. "It's a massive privilege to be part of that group. You know, you work so bloody hard and you have dreams and aspirations and to now, get rewarded, it just makes you want to work even harder, to put more fuel on the fire.

"We watched the announcement at home, myself and my wife. We were in the house, chilling. A beautiful sunny day. I think the neighbours thought maybe I burned my steak on the coals because I shouted very loud (when his name was read out) and there were a few tears from the prop. It's magnificent.

"It's something that you should cherish because you have dark days and storms, but also moments like this, great moments. You should celebrate the victory moments like this.

And the tears he talked about?

"Yeah, especially as me and my wife hugged each other. I think she grabbed my cauliflower ear. So, maybe that's why I was crying. It is emotional."

Schoeman gave thanks for his faith, something that's always been an important part of who he is.

"You pray, you have faith in God that he'll bless you with a talent to be able to do these things," he said. "My wife and I left South Africa with two suitcases just to make our life here and I'm so happy."

Schoeman was hotly fancied to make the squad and he allowed himself to dream about it, explaining: "It was a clear vision. I had written it down as a goal that I will achieve, but humbly said as well. It's nerve-wracking."

Himself and Duhan van der Merwe phoned each other during the preamble, which felt endless. "The magnitude of the whole globe watching this and the massive responsibility that comes with it," he added.

"And that's why I say, leave no stone unturned, work every day to add that value. You have to be prepped and ready to go. The sword has to be sharpened and ready for battle every bloody day, every bloody week."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Image source, SNS

Duhan van der Merwe said he was in shock when named in the British & Lions squad.

The Scotland winger had multiple concerns ahead of the announcement and found it hard to smile in the aftermath because he was so drained.

The 29-year-old hasn't played since the end of March because of injury so was fretting over his place in the squad to travel to Australia.

"Since I've picked up the niggle, you have doubts and you start thinking, 'Is this going to have an effect on me going on the tour?'," he told BBC Scotland.

"Then you start taking yourself back to the Six Nations. Did I have my best Six Nations? Good at times, but probably a wee bit average at times.

"Then you start thinking, 'Am I the type of winger [Lions coach] Andy Farrell likes? You think about that every single day.

"So I'm definitely a wee bit shocked, but at the same time, I'm absolutely buzzing."

Van der Merwe watched the announcement at home with his wife and dogs.

He said his biggest focus now is to get himself fit and firing for the end of Edinburgh's URC season, in the hope that they make the knockouts.

"I'm doing well with the injury," he said. "I ran yesterday and got up to a very good speed. I'll definitely be back towards the end of May.

"I've got to get myself out there again. I want to be fit and in shape and ready to play my best rugby. But right now, I need to go home and get a beer."

Van der Merwe made the last Lions tour, but that one was played in Covid times and he expects this one to be an altogether different affair.

"Four years ago, I'd only played for Scotland maybe eight or 10 times, so I guess I didn't really expect anything. This time around, I really want to experience it with our fans.

"I was a lot more nervous than four years ago."

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British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said that Ireland skipper Caelan Doris is "devastated" to miss out on selection for the tour to Australia because of injury.

Doris, who was also regarded a strong contender for the Lions captaincy, suffered a shoulder injury in Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton last weekend and has undergone surgery.

Farrell said that he had spoken to Doris, adding that the flanker "would have definitely been in the mix being such an experienced player and leader".

"It's devastating for people like that but there's always a constant in every single tour [that injured players miss out]," said the Lions coach, who named Doris as Ireland skipper for the first time during the 2024 Six Nations and handed him the captaincy on a permanent basis last October.

"Sport can be cruel sometimes. Caelan will be back bigger and stronger."

A British and Irish Lions squad of 38 players was announced on Thursday, for the Lions' summer tour of Australia.

Here is the full list:

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Make sure to stay across our British and Irish Lions squad announcement live page from 13:00 BST as Andy Farrell names the group of players that will tour Australia this summer.

You can watch the announcement live and follow text updates and analysis from the event in London.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

British and Irish Lions legend Willie John McBride feels the summer's tour of Australia will be "tougher than people expect".

Coach Andy Farrell will name his squad for the tour of Australia later on Thursday with England's Maro Itoje expected to be named as captain.

After slipping down the world rankings, Australia have improved under Joe Schmidt ahead of the three Test matches with the Lions.

"It's not an easy one," said McBride, who captained the Lions' famous 'invincibles' tour of South Africa in 1974.

"Joe Schmidt is there and he has been rebuilding the Australian team."

McBride added that the Lions will travel Down Under as "favourites", but that tag does not have any value unless it is backed up on the pitch.

The five-time Lions tourist added that Farrell "has done a superb job" with Ireland and backed him to replicate that in Australia.

"To go to the other side of the world and sort out a team is quite a job in the short distance that they have," the 84-year-old said.

"Andy Farrell has done a superb job for Ireland. He has done it with his feet on the ground and done it calmly.

"He has built up a terrific squad and I think he will do the same thing for the Lions."

McBride feels that Farrell, who has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland, is a strong "figurehead" to lead the tour.

"He has a good eye for the game and I think he'll develop this team," McBride added.

"He has had time to look at what players he has and see what type of game he wants to play.

"He has a good coaching team as well. Along with the captain and the rest of the coaches, he pulls it all together."

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After months of speculation, head coach Andy Farrell will announce his British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia on Thursday, 8 May at a live event in London.

Farrell has not said how many players he will pick but a total of 37 players were named in the initial squad for the last Lions tour to South Africa in 2021.

The squad will be revealed by former Wales wing and current Lions chairman Ieuan Evans, who was part of the victorious 1989 Lions tour to Australia.

The announcement is set to take place from 14:00 BST in front of more than 2,000 Lions fans at the O2 arena.

Join our live text coverage from 13:00 BST.