Team news: The 2025 Lions in action this weekend

After the euphoria of Thursday’s announcement, many of the Lions stars selected to go on this summer’s 10-match tour of Australia have domestic matters to attend to this weekend.

Of the 38 players head coach Andy Farrell has selected, 23 are set to see action, including nine of Leinster’s cohort of 12. But the likes of Northampton quartet, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Henry Pollock, and Bath duo Finn Russell and Will Stuart have been given the weekend off to sit back and digest the news that they’ll be representing Britain and Ireland Down Under.

For those involved in either the Gallagher Premiership or the United Rugby Championship, fears of picking up an untimely injury will have to be put to one side as they strive to make a telling contribution in their respective clubs’ push for the play-offs.

Newly-appointed Lions captain Maro Itoje starts for Saracens, along with fellow squad members Ben Earl and Elliot Daly, but all three will acknowledge that is is full-back Alex Goode’s big day, with the former England international set to become the first Saracens player to make 400 appearances in the pro era.

“When I joined Saracens I was over the moon to get one game, so to reach 400 brings on a feeling that’s difficult to put into words,” Goode said.

Here’s this weekend’s team news across both leagues, with 2025 Lions players listed in CAPS.

Friday May 9

Gallagher Premiership

Leicester vs Sale Sharks, KO 7.45pm

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Cameron Henderson, 5 OLLIE CHESSUM, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Olly Cracknell.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Matt Rogerson, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Dan Kelly.

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez (c), 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 LUKE COWAN-DICKIE, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 TOM CURRY, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Tom O’Flaherty, 23 Dan du Preez.

URC

Sharks v Ospreys, KO 6pm

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 1 Dian Bleuler, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Eben Etzebeth (Capt.), 5 Jason Jenkins, 6 James Venter, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 8 Siya Kolisi.
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Emmanuel Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Bradley Davids, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe.

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Dewi Lake, 3 Tom Botha, 4 Will Spencer, 5 Adam Beard, 6 James Ratti, 7 JAC MORGAN (Capt.), 8 Morgan Morse.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.

Munster v Ulster, KO 7.35pm

Munster: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 1 Michael Milne, 2 Niall Scannell,  3 Stephen Archer, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 TADHG BEIRNE (Capt.), 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 John Hodnett, 8 Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Tom Ahern, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Seán O’Brien, 23 Alex Kendellen.

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jack Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 1 Andrew Warwick, 2 Rob Herring, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Iain Henderson (Capt), 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 6 Matty Rea, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 James McNabney.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Alan O’Connor, 20 David McCann, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Stewart Moore, 23 Werner Kok.

Saturday May 10

Gallagher Premiership

Saracens v Newcastle, KO 3pm

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 ELLIOT DALY, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Alec Clarey, 4 MARO ITOJE (Capt.), 5 Nick Isiekwe, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 BEN EARL.
Replacements:16 Jamie George, 17 Sam Crean , 18 Harvey Beaton, 19 Tom Willis, 20 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Angus Hall.

Newcastle: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Ben Stevenson, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 John Hawkins, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Callum Chick (Capt.).
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 Tom Gordon, 21 Joe Davis, 22 Max Clark, 23 Oli Spencer.

What it means ❤️#WeGoBeyond #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/qIx6quxikq

— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) May 8, 2025

Bristol Bears v Bath, KO 3.05pm

Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall, 1 ELLIS GENGE, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding (Capt.), 8. Viliame Mata.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 George Kloska, 19 James Dun, 20 Joe Owen, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Siva Naulago,23  Santiago Grondona.

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Louie Hennessey, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Austin Emens, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 9 Louis Schreuder, 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Ewan Richards ©, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Arthur Green.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Kieran Verden, 19 Will Jeanes, 20 Tom Cowan, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ruaridh McConnochie, 23 Miles Reid.

Harlequins v Gloucester, KO 5.30pm

15 Tyrone Green, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Ben Waghorn, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 MARCUS SMITH, 9 Will Porter, 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Irne Herbst, 5 George Hammond, 6 Jack Kenningham, 7 Will Evans, 8 Alex Dombrandt (Capt.).
Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Ollie Streeter, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Jake Murray, 22. Jamie Benson, 23. Luke Northmore.

Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Jake Morris, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 TOMOS WILLIAMS, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Arthur Clark, 5 Freddie Thomas, 6 Jack Clement, 7 Lewis Ludlow (Capt.), 8 Ruan Ackermann.
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Ciaran Knight, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Jack Cotgreave.

URC

Bulls v Cardiff, KO 3pm

Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Zak Burger, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 JF van Heerden, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortje (CAPT), 8 Cameron Hanekom.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Devon Williams, 23 Stedman Gans

Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas (Capt.), 11 Gabe Hamer-Webb,  10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Johan Mulder, 1 Corey Domachowski, 2 Evan Lloyd, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 4 Josh McNally, 5 Rory Thornton, 6 Alex Mann, 7 James Botham, 8 Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Taulupe Faletau, 22 Aled Davies, 23 Rory Jennings.

Stormers v Dragons, KO 5.15pm

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 1 Vernon Matongo, 2 Joseph Dweba, 3 Sazi Sandi, 4 Salmaan Moerat (Capt), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 8 Evan Roos
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg

Dragons RFC: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Harry Rees-Weldon, 13 Harry Wilson, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Angus O’Brien (C-Capt.), 9 Rhodri Williams, 1 Rhodri Jones, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 3 Chris Coleman, 4 Ben Carter (C-Capt.), 5 Ryan Woodman, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7 Dan Lydiate, 8 Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: 16 James Benjamin, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Barny Langton-Cryer, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Ashton Hewitt.

“I’m so proud to represent my club, my country and my family.” 💙

Andrew Porter gives his thoughts on being selected for the 2025 @lionsofficial tour of Australia. 🛫#NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/yhX6Xcwdir

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 8, 2025

Leinster v Zebre, KO 5.15pm

Leinster: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 GARRY RINGROSE, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 JAMES LOWE, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 1 Jack Boyle, 2 RONAN KELLEHER, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 JOE McCARTHY, 5 Diarmuid Mangan, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 JOSH VAN DER FLIER, 8 JACK CONAN (CAPT.)
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 ANDREW PORTER, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 JAMES RYAN, 20 James Culhane, 21 JAMISON GIBSON-PARK, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Robbie Henshaw

Zebre Parma: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 1 Luca Franceschetto, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 3 Juan Pitinari, 4 Rusiate Nasove, 5 Leonard Krumov, 6 Bautista Stavile, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 8 Davide Ruggeri (Capt.).
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Muhamed Hasa, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Filippo Drago.

Benetton v Glasgow, KO 5.15pm

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Siua Maile, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Scott Scrafton, 5 Federico Ruzza (Capt), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Sebastian Negri, 21 Nicolò Casilio, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Jamie Dobie, 13 HUW JONES, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn (CAPT.), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 1 Jamie Bhatti, 2 Johnny Matthews, 3 Fin Richardson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Alex Samuel, 6 SCOTT CUMMINGS, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Sione Vailanu.
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Ben Afshar, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Kyle Rowe.

Connacht v Edinburgh, KO 7.35pm

Connacht: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 BUNDEE AKI, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Ben Murphy, 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Dave Heffernan, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 6 Cian Prendergast (Capt.), 7 Conor Oliver, 8 Sean Jansen.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 David Hawkshaw

Edinburgh Rugby: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Jack Brown, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 1 PIERRE SCHOEMAN, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 D’arcy Rae,  4 Marshall Sykes, 5 Sam Skinner, 6 Ben Muncaster, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Magnus Bradbury (Capt.)
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Sebastian, 19 Glen Young, 20 Liam McConnell, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Ben Healy, 23 James Lang.

Sunday May 11

Gallagher Premiership

Exeter Chiefs v Northampton, KO 3pm

Exeter: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Nick Lilley, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend, 1 Scott Sio, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Marcus Street, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (Capt), 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Ethan Roots.
Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Martin Moloney, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Tamati Tua.

Northampton: 15 Jake Garside, 14 Toby Cousins,  13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Tom Litchfield, 11 Will Glister, 10 Tom James, 9 Jonny Weimann, 1 Tom West, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Ed Prowse, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Tom Lockett (Capt.), 7 Fyn Brown, 8 Angus Scott-Young.
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Luke Green, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Reuben Logan,  21 Archie Benson, 22 Rafe Witheat, 23 Ewan Baker.

URC

Lions v Scarlets, KO 2pm

Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn, 1 Morgan Naude, 2 Jaco Visagie (Capt.), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 4 Ruan Venter, 5 Ruan Delport, 6 JC Pretorius, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 8 Jarod Cairns.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 ohnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Josh Macleod (Capt.), 8 Taine Plumtree.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Dan Davis, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Macs Page.