The British & Irish Lions’ 2025 tour to Australia will be remembered for its drama on and off the pitch, but perhaps no subplot carried as much intrigue as the emotional saga involving head coach Andy Farrell and his son, Owen Farrell. In a year already rife with speculation and scrutiny, the Farrell family’s story has come to light in gripping detail, thanks to extracts from Andy Farrell’s forthcoming autobiography, The Only Way I Know, published in The Times.
As the Lions prepared for their high-stakes summer Down Under, all eyes were on Andy Farrell’s squad selection. Owen Farrell, a veteran of three previous Lions tours and a player with a reputation for steely leadership, was hotly tipped to make the cut despite a turbulent, injury-disrupted season with Racing 92 in France. The younger Farrell’s struggles in Paris and his absence from test rugby since the 2023 World Cup made his inclusion anything but straightforward.
Yet, behind closed doors, Andy Farrell and his coaching team were unanimous: Owen’s experience and leadership were invaluable for a squad short on Lions veterans. “I wanted to bring him, despite his difficult and injury-disrupted season in Paris,” Andy Farrell wrote in his autobiography. “Every other coach favoured picking Owen too. Ordinarily, that would have been it: we would have simply named him along with the others. But I knew it was not yet a done deal. I told the coaches I would have to ring Owen first…”
What followed was a deeply personal and emotional conversation between father and son, a moment that would shape the course of the tour and, as it turns out, the public narrative around the Lions’ campaign. Andy Farrell recounted, “This was a very hard phone call. When I asked Owen if he would come, he broke down in tears. He said he did not think it would be right for him, for the squad, or for me as head coach. It was a tough thing to hear. I told him to think it through, to take his time, and if he changed his mind then I would put him on the standby list to cover an injury.”
Owen Farrell’s tearful response was a testament to the pressure and emotional weight carried by both men. The younger Farrell, at 34, was wrestling not just with the physical toll of a challenging season but also with the unique dynamic of playing under his father’s leadership at the highest level. The head coach, for his part, was acutely aware of the potential accusations of nepotism and the need for absolute transparency and professionalism. As Andy Farrell explained, “There had to be no bias whatsoever. And that included the consideration of whether to pick Owen from the start of the tour. I couldn’t shy away from that decision professionally.”
At the press conference at the O2 arena, following the squad announcement, Andy Farrell faced questions about Owen’s omission. At the time, he suggested that the decision was due to a lack of fitness, but as he now admits, “Obviously, I didn’t feel I could tell the full story.” The truth, as it turns out, was far more nuanced and personal than the public realized.
Despite being left out of the initial squad, Owen Farrell’s name remained in the conversation. Andy Farrell had told him to take his time and left the door open for a possible return as an injury replacement. That opportunity soon arose: as the Lions’ tour got underway and injuries began to bite, the call went out to Owen. This time, he answered.
The decision to bring Owen Farrell into the squad was not without controversy. Critics questioned whether the call-up was a matter of necessity or a case of familial favoritism. Yet, for those inside the Lions’ camp, there was little doubt about the value Owen brought to the table. His leadership skills, honed over three previous tours and countless high-pressure matches, helped steady a squad that was light on experience from the last proper Lions tour in 2017.
Owen Farrell would go on to feature in the second and third tests against Australia, playing a pivotal role as the Lions clinched a dramatic 2-1 series victory. The elder Farrell’s faith in his son was vindicated not just by results on the field but by the way Owen reintegrated into the squad and contributed to its culture and cohesion. “This would be Owen’s fourth tour. I knew he would get it immediately and would help bring the best out of the others around him,” Andy Farrell reflected.
The story of the Farrells is one of rugby’s great human dramas—a tale of family, loyalty, and the immense pressures that come with elite sport. It’s a reminder that behind every selection, every tactical decision, and every press conference answer, there are real relationships and emotions at play. The head coach’s willingness to lay bare the emotional toll of that phone call in his autobiography has offered fans a rare window into the personal side of the game.
For Owen Farrell, the 2025 Lions tour represented both a return to the international stage and a test of character. After a difficult season in France and a period away from test rugby, he had to weigh the demands of the squad, his own readiness, and the unique challenge of playing for his father. Ultimately, his decision to join the tour as a replacement—and his subsequent performances—spoke volumes about his commitment to the Lions cause and his ability to rise above personal and professional adversity.
As the dust settles on another memorable Lions series, the legacy of the Farrells’ emotional journey will linger. For Andy Farrell, the episode was a test of his leadership and integrity, a moment when the lines between family and professional duty blurred in the most public way possible. For Owen, it was a chance to prove himself once again on rugby’s grandest stage, not just as a player but as a leader and a son.
With Andy Farrell’s autobiography set to hit shelves soon, rugby fans will have the opportunity to delve even deeper into the behind-the-scenes story of the 2025 Lions tour. One thing’s for sure: the emotional phone call that nearly kept Owen Farrell off the plane to Australia has become a defining moment in modern rugby lore—a reminder that, sometimes, the toughest decisions in sport are also the most personal.
As the Lions look ahead to future tours, the lessons of the Farrells’ experience will no doubt echo through the halls of rugby’s greatest institution. For now, their story stands as a powerful testament to the human side of the game, where pride, vulnerability, and the desire to do what’s right can shape destinies both on and off the field.
