British and Irish Lions squad set to be announced with Itoje favored as captain

LONDON (AP) — The talking is about to stop. It’s time to announce the British and Irish Lions squad for the rugby tour of Australia.

Who should get a call-up for the Lions squad — made up of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales — is always a topic of much debate and this year has been no different.

The names of the group of 37-40 players selected by coach Andy Farrell will be read out by Lions chairman Ieuan Evans in front of an audience of more than 2,000 rugby fans at The O2 arena in London from 1230 GMT on Thursday.

It’s a new-look event for one of the big occasions on the rugby calendar, with the Lions set to play three tests against the Wallabies, along with six more games in Australia — against Western Force, Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, an Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV and a First Nations and Pasifika XV.

The tour begins with a match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 and ends with the series-closing third test on Aug. 2.

England lock Maro Itoje will reportedly captain the Lions on the trip Down Under.

Will there be a few surprise names on the list? In-form back-rower Henry Pollock, who has played just once for England but has been impressing at club level with Northampton Saints, could be one of the bolters.

Another big question is how many Wales players will be called up, with the nation on a record losing run of 17 tests stretching back to 2023.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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