The British and Irish Lions finished their summer tour of Australia with a series win; the first series win since 2013 and the first time The Lions have won back-to-back series in the same country in the professional era.
Andy Farrell’s team rounded out their summer down under with a loss, but after winning the first two test matches, the series had already been wrapped up.
27 different players made a test appearance for The Lions on this summer’s tour, with 13 new debutants etching their name into Rugby history.
I have compiled my “test team of the summer” out of these 27 players to name a starting 15 of the most impressive performances down under.
Ellis Genge
Genge was a strong leader throughout the tour on and off the pitch, even though Irishman Andrew Porter was favoured to start in two out of the three tests.
His impact off the bench and in the dressing room helped motivate The Lions in all three tests, and his hard running and superb scrum play helped push The Lions past the post.
The Bristol Bears prop showed why he is England’s first-choice loosehead and was the standout prop on tour.
Dan Sheehan
Sheehan is arguably the best hooker in the world, and his ability to convert tries out on the wing is extraordinary.
His scoring statistics speak for themselves, and the Irishman was crucial in both the breakdown and open play.
He got on the scoresheet in multiple matches down under whilst being the most accurate hooker on the tour.
Sheehan’s inclusion in this side is probably the easiest pick out of any position.
Tadhg Furlong
“Old reliable” was just that on tour, extremely reliable. His experience, knowledge and pure power won The Lions a few scrum penalties as well as pulling up with some dominant tackles.
Furlong has now started nine straight Lions test matches, equalling Alun Wyn Jones’s record in the professional era, and it is thoroughly deserved.
Bath’s Will Stuart played well off the bench when called upon, but Furlong was in a class of his own on tour.
Maro Itoje
This tour’s captain started all three games and led from the front. He was a menace at the breakdown and his jackaling helped turn the tide against Australia when the Lions called on him the most.
He was both dependable and consistently crucial in all three test matches.
Joe McCarthy
Some people would have put Tadhg Beirne in this sport, but I have picked McCarthy to partner Itoje in the second row.
McCarthy was electrifying in the games he played, and his lineout play, as well as his heavy running, set him apart from the rest of the locks on tour.
He continually impressed me with his style of play, and the Leinster man has seemingly gone from strength to strength over the past few years.
Tom Curry
Once again, some people would’ve put Tadhg Berine at six, but there was no way I couldn’t include Curry and Jac Morgan into this side.
Curry started all three tests for The Lions and has become one of the best back rowers in the world since recovering from his last long-term injury.
Disruptive at the breakdown and a tackling machine, precisely what you ask for from a flanker, and he shone at both throughout.
Jac Morgan
The only Welshman on tour because of Tomos Williams’s injury carried the pride of Wales on his back.
He helped win the second game for the Lions with a controversial clear-out and was instrumental in trying to turn around the result of the final test.
He has been a bright spark in a dampened Welsh side over the past 18 months, and his leadership and ability will be instrumental in reigniting the fire in the Welsh Dragon.
Jack Conan
Before Caelen Doris’s injury, many would not have had Conan anywhere near the starting 15. Still, the Irish captain’s admission catapulted Conan into a starting role, and he took this chance and ran with it.
He was a total wrecking ball all around the pitch, he made many dominant hits, created multiple turnovers, and his heavy runs constantly made metres.
Ben Earl would’ve felt hard done by not getting a start, but Conan made that 8 jersey his own.
Jamison Gibson-Park
The Leinster man was the starting scrum half in all three of the test matches down under, and his distribution and change of pace were solid in all three matches.
His high box kicks constantly put the Australian back three under pressure, forcing mistakes, and he is arguably the second-best scrum half in the world behind Antoine Dupont.
Finn Russell
The first Scottish player to make the team, Russell stamped his place as The Lions’ best fly half.
He was the heartbeat of the backline, mixing flair and creativity with superb game management.
Across the Test series, he unlocked Australia’s defence with pinpoint kicks, slick distribution, and moments of audacious skill that kept defenders guessing, cementing his role as one of the tour’s standout playmakers.
Blair Kinghorn
Although not a natural winger, Kinghorn started on the left in the final test and came onto the wing in the second test also.
He brought to life a docile period of play for The Lions and revamped their attack when on the pitch. He was excellent when called upon and justified his selection in this team with some superb ball carrying and decision making.
Sione Tuipulotu
The Glasgow man was a dependable and dynamic presence in The Lions’ midfield during the 2025 tour, combining physicality in the tackle with sharp attack lines.
He capped his series with a well-taken try and consistently provided go-forward ball, proving himself one of the backline’s most reliable performers.
Huw Jones
Jones was a constant spark in the attack and dependable in defence. His link-up play was superb and proved to be a valuable asset to Farrell’s team.
The Scot showed off excellent spatial awareness in both attack and defence, and his chemistry with Tuipulotu exploited the Australian defensive line throughout.
Tommy Freeman
Freeman’s physicality and speed made him a dangerous threat at all times, even when he didn’t receive much of the ball, he took the chances he got well and consistently made metres.
The best winger on tour and has a bright future ahead of him on the international stage.
Hugo Keenan
Who else could round out this list but the man who won the series? Keenan was dependable in defence, solid in the breakdown when called upon and his flair and fancy feet won the series for The Lions with a last-minute try in the second test.
Many doubted his selection over Kinghorn and full back, but he silenced many of his critics with a superb showing down under.
