Itoje Set To Be Named British And Irish Lions Captain

Maro Itoje is group to beryllium confirmed connected Thursday arsenic nan British and Irish Lions skipper for nan circuit of Australia.

The 30-year-old will go nan first Englishman since Martin Johnson successful 2001 to beryllium named Lions captain, and will lead a statement of astir 40 players.

Itoje, who will circuit pinch nan Lions for nan 3rd time, took complete nan England captaincy earlier nan 2025 Six Nations, starring them to 2nd aft 4 consecutive wins.

With Ireland skipper Caelan Doris having enarthrosis room this week, Itoje has emerged arsenic nan outstanding campaigner for nan role.

He will beryllium confirmed formally successful beforehand of a unrecorded assemblage astatine nan O2 Arena connected Thursday afternoon, on pinch nan remainder of nan Lions squad.

Itoje's credentials person been endorsed by a drawstring of erstwhile Lions, including three-times tourer Matt Dawson.

"Maro has blossomed beautifully this play for England," Dawson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He has gone from being a subordinate who was a certainty to beryllium successful nan team, but was a spot short of nan shape of his early 20s and a small spot excessively ill-disciplined, to being correct successful nan groove.

"The captaincy has fixed him a caller lease of life and he is fresh to measurement into nan domiciled for nan Lions."

Itoje will beryllium nan only personnel of Andy Farrell's touring statement coming astatine nan announcement, pinch nan remainder of nan squad uncovering retired astatine nan time.

Farrell's squad look Argentina successful Dublin connected Friday, 20 June, earlier their first crippled connected Australian ungraded against Western Force connected Saturday, 28 June.

The three-Test bid against nan Wallabies starts connected 19 July successful Brisbane.