Maro Itoje will captain the British and Irish Lions for their tour of Australia, leading a 38-player squad that does not include Owen Farrell. 

Itoje became the first Englishman to lead the team since Martin Johnson in 2001, while Ireland captain Caelan Doris misses out with a shoulder injury. 

The 30-year-old was England's captain, taking over from Jamie George, for their Six Nations campaign, helping his team to a second-placed finish in the standings. 

Itoje is a two-time Lion already, having played against the All Blacks in 2017 and South Africa in 2021 and will look to lead his team to their first series win against the Wallabies since 2013. 

"It is hard to articulate. It is a tremendous honour, a tremendous privilege," Itoje said on being named captain at an unveiling event at London's O2 Arena on Thursday.

"You think about the people who have held this position before, and it is remarkable. It is an honour and I will do my very best so that I can contribute to a successful tour.

Your Lions 2025 squad #Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/JJ9nF2w9eh

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 8, 2025

Elsewhere, Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock's remarkable rise continued after he was named in the squad, with Marcus Smith also included. 

The flanker, who only turned 20 in January, had played only one Premiership game before the start of this season but has risen to prominence on the international stage. 

Farrell, the son of head coach Andy, has only just returned to fitness with French side Racing 92 and has not been selected for one final tour with the Lions. 

Ireland's first-choice fly-half, Sam Prendergast, misses out with Scotland's Finn Russell and England pair Fin Smith and Smith preferred as stand-off options.

Other notable admissions include Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan, Jamie George and George Ford. 

Scrum-half Tomos Williams and flanker Jac Morgan are the only two Wales players included, an all-time low for a Lions tour.

Farrell's team face Argentina in their first warm-up game in Dublin on June 20, before their first game on Australian soil against Western Force eight days later.

The three-test series against the Wallabies starts on July 19 in Brisbane.

Full British and Irish Lions squad:

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Zander Fagerson, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Tomos Williams.