In a surprising twist to the ongoing British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, Owen Farrell has been called up as an injury replacement for the sidelined Elliot Daly. The news broke following Daly's unfortunate fractured forearm sustained during the Lions' commanding 52-12 victory over the Queensland Reds on July 2, 2025, abruptly ending his participation in the tour.
The decision to bring in Owen Farrell, the 33-year-old fly-half and son of head coach Andy Farrell, has stirred considerable discussion. While Farrell's recent form has been a mixed bag—marked by injury struggles and inconsistent performances during his 2024-25 season with Racing 92 in France—his vast experience and leadership credentials remain undeniable. This call-up marks Farrell's fourth Lions tour, having previously made six Test appearances across the 2013, 2017, and 2021 expeditions, alongside an impressive 112 caps for England, where he also served as captain from 2018 to 2023.
Head coach Andy Farrell expressed his sentiments candidly, stating, “It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s tour is over. He’s a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three tours. Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.” This endorsement underscores the faith placed in Farrell's ability to bolster the squad’s depth and competitive edge despite the unconventional circumstances of his selection.
Farrell is set to arrive in Sydney on July 4, 2025, but Saturday’s clash against the New South Wales Waratahs comes too soon for his debut. Instead, Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will lead the side, with Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan making their Lions debuts on the left wing and at full-back, respectively. Kinghorn joined the squad only recently after helping Toulouse clinch the Top 14 title, while Keenan returns from an illness that kept him out of the previous match against the Reds.
Elliot Daly’s injury came late in the second half of the Reds match after a heavy tackle on Reds skipper Jock Campbell. Initially, Daly attempted to continue but was soon replaced by Garry Ringrose, with Tommy Freeman shifting to full-back. Daly had been a standout performer in the tour so far, impressing at full-back in all three games prior to his injury. His versatility—covering inside centre, wing, and full-back—made him a vital squad member, and his absence leaves a significant gap.
The Lions squad already boasts several backline options, including Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, and Fin Smith, who provide cover at fly-half and full-back. The call-up of Owen Farrell, who is not a direct positional replacement for Daly, hints at strategic decisions by the coaching staff. It suggests a potential shift in how the backline might be managed, with Marcus Smith likely to be deployed primarily at full-back, while Russell and Fin Smith cover fly-half roles. There is also a slight concern over Finn Russell’s fitness, as he was seen icing his wrist after being substituted at Suncorp Stadium, though this is not considered a serious issue.
Adding to the intrigue, Owen Farrell's selection over other potential replacements such as Scotland’s Tom Jordan, Wales’ Blair Murray, Ireland’s Jamie Osborne, and England’s George Ford highlights the coaching staff’s emphasis on experience and leadership. Andy Farrell elaborated on this, saying, “We have said from minute one that the only thing we want is competition. If he didn’t have a chance then what is the point? Everybody should be competing, that is what everyone in the group would want.” He further emphasized Farrell’s value: “He’s the right man at this moment in time for us. We see him adding to the group and injecting a bit of life and experience as far as what he can bring to the squad.”
Owen Farrell's return to the Lions setup is not without controversy. Having stepped away from Test rugby in January 2024 to prioritize his and his family’s mental wellbeing, and not having played international rugby since the 2023 World Cup, questions about his form and match fitness abound. He has not played any rugby in the last two months and struggled with injuries during his stint in France. Yet, his pedigree, big-game mindset, and previous Lions series victory—he is the only player on tour with such an accolade—are compelling factors in his favor.
The decision also reflects a close-knit dynamic within the squad, as Farrell is a longtime Saracens teammate of Lions captain Maro Itoje and assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth. Andy Farrell assured that the choice was made collectively: “There are other coaches in that conversation; it’s not just on me. Obviously I make the final call and I’m happy to do that, but these conversations have been going on in the background the whole time about all sorts of players and that’s the call we came to.”
Looking ahead, the Lions face the New South Wales Waratahs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on July 5, 2025. The team for this match includes Tadhg Beirne as captain, with Henry Pollock at blindside flanker and a mobile back row featuring Ben Earl and Josh van der Flier. Keenan and Kinghorn will start in the backline, with Kinghorn on the wing and Keenan at full-back. The half-back pairing features Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, while the forward pack includes Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Finlay Bealham among others.
The Waratahs match is a crucial step as the Lions build momentum toward the first Test against the Wallabies, scheduled for mid-July in Brisbane. With just a fortnight to go, the squad is focused on sharpening their competitive edge and integrating new members like Owen Farrell, who could soon make his presence felt on the field.
Andy Farrell dismissed any criticism surrounding his son's selection, urging fans and critics alike to move past the “nonsense” of past online abuse that contributed to Owen’s earlier step back from international rugby. “Look, I hope people can get past that,” he said. “There has been a lot of that nonsense for some time. That was in the past. We all just need to move on and embrace what the Lions is all about and what we have got coming ahead.”
As the Lions tour progresses, all eyes will be on Owen Farrell’s integration into the squad and whether he can rekindle his form to compete for a Test spot. His arrival undoubtedly injects experience and leadership into a squad eager to challenge the Wallabies on their home turf. The coming weeks promise to be an exciting chapter in this storied tour, with the Farrell saga adding an unexpected but compelling subplot.
