Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

With the Men’s British and Irish Lions squad having just been announced, and the knowledge that a Women’s Lions tour is on the horizon in 2027 to New Zealand, the question arose: ‘What would a Women’s Lions starting XV look like if they were playing a Test this weekend?’

Every player from the home nations in this year’s Women’s Six Nations campaign has been considered, and to make things easier, the assumption is that everyone is fit and firing.

Loosehead Prop: Hannah Botterman

When you have a loosehead who is lethal at set piece but also gives you all the benefits of an extra openside flanker in the loose (as well as popping up with the occasional highlight reel try), how could you consider anyone else? Botterman is a big personality, which will make for an excellent tourist, too.

Of course, a squad needs depth, and the likes of Gwenllian Pyrs and Leah Bartlett would provide a strong challenge and alternative options for coaches.

Hooker: Neve Jones

Ireland’s hooker is a key piece in their resurgence on the national stage. Solid at set piece, ferocious in the loose and seemingly able to will herself to win contact against opponents twice her size.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

She faces strong opposition from England’s Lark Atkin-Davies, whose set piece work is impeccable, as well as Amy Cokayne, a maverick back in the body of a rampaging forward.

Tighthead Prop: Maud Muir

You’d be forgiven for thinking I’ve listed the wrong Red Rose here, and Sarah Bern will have a lot to say about who wears three for the Lions, but Muir had an exceptional Six Nations. She’s a mighty scrummager and developing into an ever more powerful carrier too, and crucially for a touring squad, has experience in all front row roles.
Ireland’s Linda Djougang continues to put her hand up to be in the mix here too.

Lock: Sarah Bonar

Bonar has been talismanic for a Scottish side who seem determined to keep pushing forward even as they seem to hit their ceiling. Able to switch between lock and back row, it’s Bonar’s defensive nous and natural leadership that make her a nailed-on starter in this team.
Like Bonar, Dorothy Wall can play both lock and back row, and continues to improve at pace in both roles for Ireland and Exeter Chiefs.

Lock: Abbie Ward

The “tighthead lock” phase that briefly engulfed rugby journalism has thankfully been and gone, but the concept at its core may as well describe Abbie Ward. An immensely strong lock allows the tighthead in front of them the best support in the scrum, and there’s nobody better than Ward. Add her almost telepathic ability to read the lineout as well as her tackling, and you’d not want to risk leaving her behind.

Gwen Crabb has had a torrid time with injuries, but when she is playing, Wales are a far better side, while Morwenna Talling increasingly looks like the heir apparent for Ward’s role with England.

Blindside Flanker: Zoe Aldcroft

The best in the game at what she does, and Aldcroft does a bit of everything. She is a monster at the breakdown, immense in the tackle and whether in the engine room or the back row, she is so efficient in set piece. Her presence seems to lift those around her, and her quiet calm would make her the perfect team captain for the noise and lights of a Lions tour.

Wales’ Kate Williams will be waiting in the wings in case the coach prefers Aldcroft at lock, and while Rachel Malcolm might not warrant a starting berth in this particular starting team, she’d be on the plane for sure.

Openside Flanker: Erin King

21-year-old King has been such a standout for Ireland that when the openside was injured early in their match against England, it seemed to knock the wind out of the whole team. She’s a fantastic player to watch, energetic, exciting and always playing with gung-ho flair.

Sadia Kabeya and Marlie Packer would also be putting their hands up for the seven shirt, and Wales’ fierce tackler Alex Callendar won’t let go of an opportunity without a fight either.

Number Eight: Alex Matthews

Matthews is a Rolls-Royce of a player. She plays the game in such an unflustered way that the amount of work she gets through goes almost unnoticed. She’s built a fantastic rapport with Aldcroft to the point that they seem to instinctively know what the other is planning to do at any given moment.

Ireland’s Aoife Wafer, a nominated Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, continues to go from strength to strength on the international stage. She leads by example and at only 22, by the time 2027 rolls around, this shirt could potentially be in her hands.

Scrum-half: Keira Bevan

Bevan is a veteran member of a Wales team that have had a rollercoaster ride over the last few years, and despite it all has been a consistent performer. A scrum half who directs and dictates play, she allows her fellow half-backs to focus on distribution. Another natural leader, she provides a bit of grit as well as a very good pair of hands.

Natasha Hunt would be an obvious choice for the nine shirt, but had a poor tournament by her standards, while her fellow Red Rose Lucy Packer is a perfect bench option for quick ball and a more regimented style of play.

Fly-half: Zoe Harrison

Before the Six Nations, you might have been forgiven for thinking Harrison’s time as starting 10 for England had passed, but a series of no-nonsense performances as well as an improved accuracy rate with her kicks propelled her back to the front of the queue. She’s a safe and steady pair of hands with a playing style that allows her to mesh well with a wide range of tactical approaches.

Dannah O’Brien had a fantastic tournament for Ireland and will be hoping that, if she continues her current progression, she’ll be the pre-eminent fly-half by the time the actual Lions tour comes around, while the versatility of Holly Aitchison and Helen Nelson means both may tour and either could find themselves in a 12 shirt.

Inside Centre: Enya Breen

A prototypical second receiver, Breen provides a second option for distributing the ball and is a fine kicker in her own right. She can also cover ten if required. It’s her eye for a pass that finds her in the 12 shirt here, though, as we create a midfield full of creative options.

Tatyana Heard provides a more direct option with harder carrying and a more aggressive tackling style, while Courtney Keight continues to grow into the role for Wales.

 

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Outside Centre: Megan Jones

When you’ve ousted Emily Scarratt from her starting berth for the Red Roses, you’ve probably already done enough to make it onto a Lions tour, but when you go on to be an integral part of another unbeaten Six Nations tournament, you can probably expect to start too. Jones is a classy operator, a good kicker with quick feet and a quicker mind.

If coaches want a more direct option, then Emma Orr is probably next in the queue while Ireland’s Aoife Dalton continues to impress.

Left Wing: Francesca McGhie

Is there a position with more depth than left wing? We don’t think so. Fran McGhie has been fantastic for Scotland, dancing down the wing with the poise of a ballerina and the power of a bulldozer, so she gets the nod ahead of an absolute murderous row of try-scoring talent, including the brilliant Amee-Leigh Costigan or Ireland as well as Red Roses’ Claudia MacDonald and Jess Breach.

Right Wing: Abby Dow

One of the first names on the teamsheet. There’s nobody in this squad as lethal as Dow when you look at how many tries she scores against how many times she actually gets the ball. She’s a potent runner with an impressive fend and the ability to ride out tackles.

Anna McGann and Rhona Lloyd will both be looking to up the number of starts for their nation by chasing this shirt, while Mia Venner would be a potential bolter to join the team.

 

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Fullback: Ellie Kildunne

The World Player of the Year was always going to get her shirt for a Lions tour, despite impressive performances from Emma Sing when the opportunity was given to her. Kildunne is at her best with front-foot ball and with this team ahead of her she’ll be licking her lips seeing the space that has been created for her to dance through.

Alongside Sing, there are other candidates in contention here. Chloe Rollie continues to be rock solid for Scotland and Ireland’s Stacey Flood impresses with every appearance.

Women’s Lions starting XV:

1. Hannah Botterman
2. Neve Jones
3. Maud Muir
4. Sarah Bonar
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft
7. Erin King
8. Alex Matthews

9. Keira Bevan
10. Zoe Harrison
11. Fran McGhie
12. Enya Breen
13. Megan Jones
14. Abby Dow
15. Ellie Kildunne