The Breakdown | Who will Andy Farrell take on Lions tour of

There are plenty of probables but the domestic fixture list, especially for French sides, will have a massive influence

Just imagine, for a second, you are Andy Farrell, head coach of the 2025 British & Irish Lions. There is not limitless scope for leisurely reflection, given Ireland’s Test series in South Africa and with his son Owen about to make an emotional farewell to Saracens. But last Saturday’s thunderous Champions Cup final is still fresh in the imagination and now is an obvious time to ponder the best available squad to face Australia next year.

The first priority, as ever, is to dig out next year’s domestic fixture list. The Lions’ first game is scheduled to take place on 20 June in Dublin against Argentina, before the squad departs for Western Australia. The Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals are the previous weekend, a welcome improvement from 2021 when the former clashed with the Lions’ game versus Japan at Murrayfield.