Willie John McBride doubles down on Lions critique, suggests renaming

Lions legend Willie John McBride has revisited recent remarks regarding the number of foreign-born players selected in the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad, expanding on controversial comments originally made in South African newspaper Rapport.

Speaking to Patrick McCarry for Rugby World magazine, McBride clarified his views a month after expressing unease at the presence of eight players in Andy Farrell’s squad who were not born in Britain or Ireland.

The fact that the 2025 squad selected by Farrell includes several players who qualified via residency or ancestry doesn’t sit well with McBride, who feels it’s a reflection of failure to produce home-grown talent.

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“They are all good players,” McBride told Rugby World. “There is nothing wrong with them, in that regard. All very talented. The thing that disappoints me, though, is that rugby has been professional for 30 years, and we’re still not developing our own players. Surely there are enough fellas around that are equally as good, and worthy, of a Lions call-up?”

While reaffirming that he wished all players in the squad well, McBride questioned whether the concept of the Lions might evolve as eligibility rules continue to broaden and cheekily suggests a new name for the tourists.

“If we go down this road, you wonder whether it should just be the British, Irish & Newly Qualified Lions. Time moves on and brings about changes. I accept that, and wish those players well, on tour.”

In his initial comments to Rapport, the 85-year-old, who played in five Lions tours between 1962 and 1974, said: “One thing that does bother me is that eight members of the squad are not born in Britain or Ireland. That’s how things have changed over the past 60 years. In my day, the team consisted only of native players.”

McBride captained the unbeaten 1974 Lions in South Africa and remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of the touring side.