British and Irish Lions Name Diverse 38-Man Squad for Australia Tour

The British and Irish Lions have announced their 38-man squad for the upcoming tour of Australia, with England's Maro Itoje named as captain, becoming the first English player to captain the Lions since 2001. Itoje, who recently took over as England skipper, is praised for his leadership and experience, having toured with the Lions twice before. The squad features two South African-born players representing Scotland: winger Duhan van der Merwe and prop Pierre Schoeman, both of whom bring significant international experience. The team also includes young talents like Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock, the youngest member at 20 years old. Notably, Owen Farrell, son of head coach Andy Farrell, was not selected due to his club rugby commitments in France and injury issues. The Lions aim to build on their legacy with a balanced squad targeting success in the three-Test series against the Wallabies.