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The countdown to the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour is heating up, and the headlines are coming thick and fast.

From injury setbacks to fresh call-ups, and even movement among the touring party’s off-field entourage, there’s no shortage of drama.

Here’s your latest Lions round-up, with big updates on Tom Curry, two fresh faces linking up with the squad, and news from the WAG camp ahead of departure for Australia.

Tom Curry is set to power through pain and put off surgery as he prepares for what could be a career-defining British & Irish Lions tour.

The England flanker, who missed most of the 2024 season with injury, is managing a lingering wrist ligament issue — one that will eventually require surgery. But rather than go under the

knife now, Curry will delay the procedure until after the Lions series in Australia.

British & Irish Lions icon Willie John McBride has hit out at Andy Farrell’s squad selection for the 2025 tour to Australia, questioning the inclusion of players not born in Britain or

Ireland.

The 84-year-old Irish legend, who famously captained the unbeaten 1974 Lions in South Africa, told Rapport that the modern game has strayed far from the traditions he once knew.

“One thing that does bother me is that eight members of the squad are not born in Britain or Ireland,” he said.“That’s how things have changed over the past 60 years. In my day, the team

consisted only of native players.”

British & Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell dropped a selection bombshell after unveiling his initial 38-man squad – revealing that two spots are still up for grabs.

In true Lions fashion, there were jaw-dropping omissions and surprise inclusions in Farrell’s first squad as head coach. But it’s not the end of the road for those left behind – the final

touring party will rise to 40 in the coming weeks.

One name on everyone’s lips is his son, Owen Farrell. The playmaker, who recently stepped away from England duty, remains firmly in contention and is the bookmakers’ red-hot favourite at 1/2

to make the cut.

Joining him in the odds is fellow England exile Jack Willis. The former Wasps flanker – now starring for Toulouse – was arguably the biggest shock omission from Farrell’s first draft, but he

could yet force his way in if form and fitness align.

Here’s a look at some of the partners of the England, Irish and Scottish stars likely to be packing their passports — and maybe a Lions bucket hat or two…

Nika and powerhouse wing Duhan van der Merwe tied the knot in sunny South Africa back in January 2023. She turned heads in a chic fitted gown with a thigh-high split, topped off with a glam

studded cape — a wedding as bold as Duhan’s sidestep.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Emma and magician-in-boots Finn Russell, but the pair are back stronger than ever and now proud parents to two daughters: Charlie and Skye.

Emma knows the pressure of elite sport first-hand — she’s a heptathlete, battling across seven gruelling events. Now she balances it all with family life and Finn’s erratic brilliance.

Huw Jones and Annabel said “I do” in Ibiza back in July 2022 after meeting in Glasgow. Huw’s not afraid to show his romantic side, often calling Annabel his “everything.”

When an injury sidelined him during the 2019 Six Nations, she bought him a fluffy Maltese poodle named Louis — his furry lockdown lifesaver.

Blair Kinghorn popped the question to nutritionist Dina during a dreamy weekend at Gleneagles in 2023 — wedding bells will ring this August after the tour wraps.

The couple made an appearance in Six Nations: Full Contact on Netflix, with viewers spotting Blair stepping in at fly-half when Finn Russell was sidelined. Dina’s backstage support? Rock

solid.

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