CENTRES
TEST XV: (INSIDE CENTRE) Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)
TEST XV: (OUTSIDE CENTRE) Ollie Lawrence (England & Bath)
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MID WEEK: (INSIDE CENTRE) Tom Jordan (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)
MID WEEK: (OUTSIDE CENTRE) Garry Ringrose (Ireland & Leinster)
TRAINING SQUAD: Mason Grady (Wales & Cardiff)
The Lions’ midfield heading into 2029 is an exciting cocktail of brute force, flair, and tactical maturity, that is spearheaded by the resurgent Sione Tuipulotu and the relentless Ollie Lawrence. With Bundee Aki set to retire from the Test stage, the Tuipulotu is set to emerge as one of the most consistent centres in the northern hemisphere. Tuipulotu gets our nod for the inside centre slot and a second Lions tour, bringing ball-playing creativity and hard-running bite to the Lions’ backline.
Outside him, we’ve gone with England’s Ollie Lawrence, who was heart-broken to sustain an Achilles injury in the 2025 Six Nations clash with Italy and rule him out of the tour. Lawrence has shown he can thrive at both 12 and 13, but we’ve placed him in his more natural outside centre berth, where his explosive carry game and aggressive defence will be vital in the Test cauldron against New Zealand. Lawrence and Tuipulotu form a bruising, intelligent midfield combination that could unsettle even the sturdiest All Blacks’ defensive structure.
Backing them up in the mid-week fixtures is another Glasgow connection — Tom Jordan, the New Zealand-born inside centre whose eligibility switch to Scotland was a major coup for Gregor Townsend. Jordan has stepped up for Glasgow in big moments, and his understanding with Tuipulotu gives Andy Farrell a ready-made pairing to try out with combinations during the tour.
Alongside him is the vastly experienced Garry Ringrose, who earns a recall to Lions duty as a mid-week leader and playmaker. The Leinster man will be 34 come 2029, and while he may not be pushing for Test involvement, his defensive nous and reading of the game would remain top class.
Completing the centre group is Mason Grady, who just misses out on the full squad but earns a spot as a training call-up. The Cardiff man continues to grow into his 6’5” frame, with Wales increasingly using him as a direct strike runner and wide channel threat. Grady could yet find himself elevated into matchday squads if injuries hit, and his raw physicality is a tempting wildcard should the Lions need to shift their attacking blueprint mid-tour come 2029.
WINGS
TEST XV: (LEFT WING) Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England and Exeter Chiefs)
TEST XV: (RIGHT WING) Tommy Freeman (England & Northampton Saints)
MID WEEK: (LEFT WING) Mack Hansen (Ireland & Connacht)
MID WEEK: (RIGHT WING) Tommy O’Brien (Ireland & Leinster)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s hopes for the 2025 Lions tour ended in brutal fashion, as he sustained a shoulder injury that just kept coming back. The Exeter Chiefs wing was cleared for action, yet Feyi-Waboso re-aggrevated the issue shortly after returning the pitch.
Following his return in an England XV match against France XV, the wing went and got sent off for a two-match ban. This only hindered his hopes of a late Lions call, but at just 22-years-old Feyi-Waboso has time on his side for a run with the Lions, with his dazzling England rise only set to continue once he returns to full fitness and his suspension subsides.
On the right, Feyi-Waboso’s fellow countryman Tommy Freeman returns for a second Lions tour and claims a Test starting role off the bat. Freeman is currently battling against the likes of James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe out in Australia, yet the sands of time are ticking for the Ireland and Scotland wings, who would be past their best in 2029.
The Northampton Saints man has flourished within Steve Borthwick’s England squad, with a grand slam of tries having scored in every fixture of the 2025 Six Nations. Freeman’s connection with Fin Smith adds another layer to the Lions’ attacking options, and his strength under the high ball will be vital in dealing with New Zealand’s kicking game.
In the mid-week fixtures, Ireland and Connacht man Mack Hansen offers experience and unpredictability. While his spot in the Irish XV has been challenged by emerging talents in recent seasons, Hansen remains a devastating broken-field runner and off-the-cuff creator. His inclusion as a 31-year-old senior voice in the mid-week squad provides spark and leadership, traits that have made him a fan favourite on tour.
Completing the wing unit is break-out Ireland star Tommy O’Brien, whose recent emergence at both Leinster and in the green of his country propels him forward as a reliable wide option. A natural footballer with a solid kicking game and strong defensive work rate, his versatility across the backline could prove invaluable should injuries arise later in the tour. With a strong English flavour to the Test wings and two intelligent Irish operators providing depth, the Lions look well stocked to take the wide battle to New Zealand.
FULLBACKS
TEST XV: Blair Kinghorn (Scotland & Stade Toulousain)
TEST SUB: Freddie Steward (England & Leicester Tigers)
MID WEEK: Henry Arundell (England and Bath)
The fullback jersey for the 2029 British & Irish Lions goes to Blair Kinghorn, whose seamless adaptation to life in France with Toulouse has elevated him firmly into world-class territory. Long viewed as a utility option, Kinghorn has fully claimed the No.15 shirt in both club and country colours, combining towering aerial presence with sleek distribution and long-range kicking.
His ability to slot in at fly-half if needed only strengthens his case as a Test starter, offering Farrell an extra play-maker with proven big-match composure. Kinghorn would be 32 when the 2029 tour comes around, in what could well be the crowning moment of his decorated career, should he avoid similar injuries that have hindered his run out in Australia.
On the bench, England’s Freddie Steward remains one of the most consistent performers in northern hemisphere rugby, despite a challenging couple of years in and out of Steve Borthwick’s side. Steward’s height, safe hands, and calm defensive positioning make him an ideal option to close out games or step in if conditions favour a more conservative aerial battle.
Though he may have lost his place as a guaranteed England starter, following George Furbank’s recent hot form and the insistence to play Marcus Smith in the back-field, Steward he brings invaluable security and reliability to the Lions’ back-three. Having been a feature of the England side for so long, you’d struggle to believe that Steward is only 24-years-old, with time on his side to excel in the red of the Lions.
Slotting into the mid-week squad is Henry Arundell, who is now freshly back in England having agreed a move to Bath from Racing 92. The blue, black and whites will unleash the England flyer across the wing and at fullback, with Arundell expert adaptability elevating his stock to no end.
Arundell’s electric footwork and fearless counter-attacking style make him a dangerous presence in broken field play, and he offers a thrilling option for mid-week clashes. His versatility across the back three makes him a strong contender to rise into the matchday 23 should injury or form open the door.
Between Kinghorn’s maturity, Steward’s dependability, and Arundell’s game-breaking flair, the Lions boast a fullback group with tactical range and match-winning potential. At just 22-years-old, Arundell is certainly one for the Lions future, with Kinghorn carrying the fullback torch for one last Lions run down in New Zealand in four years time.
2029 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TEST MATCH SQUAD
15. Freddie Steward 14. Tommy Freeman 13. Ollie Lawrence 12. Sione Tuipulotu 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 10. Fin Smith 9. Ben White 1 Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Will Stuart 4. Maro Itoje (C) 5. Joe McCarthy 6. Tom Curry 7. Henry Pollock 8. Caelan Doris
16. Dewi Lake 17. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 18. Zander Fagerson 19. Ollie Chessum 20. Ben Earl 21. Alex Mitchell 22. Marcus Smith 23. Blair Kinghorn