Andy Farrell has announced the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia, with Maro Itoje named as captain. The 38-man squad announcement, made at a live event at the O2 in London, was met with excitement and some surprise omissions.

Henry Pollock, the Northampton rising star, is the most eye-catching inclusion, drawing the biggest cheer at the announcement. Despite only making his England debut recently, Pollock’s impressive performances, including in Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final win against Leinster, have earned him a spot. As the youngest Lion, he will be responsible for looking after the Lions mascot, BIL, during the tour.

Owen Farrell is a notable omission from the squad. Although his father, Andy Farrell, hinted at a possible late call-up, Owen's current form and fitness struggles for Racing 92 have kept him out of the initial selection. Finn Russell and the English pair of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith have been selected as the fly-halves.

The squad comprises 15 Ireland players, 13 England players, eight players from Scotland, and two from Wales. Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams represent Wales, while Blair Kinghorn is the only player based in France. Other high-profile players missing out include Sam Prendergast, Jack Willis, Taulupe Faletau, Jamie Ritchie, and Jamie George.

Maro Itoje was named as captain of the touring party, a decision met with boisterous applause. Itoje expressed his honor and humility, stating he is looking forward to the challenge ahead. The Lions face Argentina in Dublin on June 20 as a warm-up before the three-Test series against the Wallabies in Australia, starting on July 19. Ticket sales for the tour have already exceeded 500,000.

The squad announcement also highlighted various team celebrations for their selected players, including Northampton Saints, Edinburgh Rugby, Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors, Leicester Tigers, Gloucester, Bristol Bears, and Sale Sharks.

Assistant coach Johnny Sexton acknowledged the emotional weight of selection day, having experienced both the highs and lows in his career. Andy Farrell’s message to those who missed out was to keep fighting and stay fit, emphasizing that they will be watching.

The selection process involved careful consideration of player combinations and versatility, crucial for the demanding schedule of 10 games in six weeks. The tradition of announcing players alphabetically continues, creating an agonizing wait for those with surnames towards the end of the alphabet.

Despite speculation and debate, Andy Farrell has made his choices, balancing experience with emerging talent. The focus now shifts to the tour ahead and the challenges it presents.