With less than a year now until the first Test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions in Brisbane, head coach Andy Farrell will have a rough idea of who will be part of his squad.
The bulk of players will come from the Gallagher Premiership and the United Rugby Championship, but, free from the shackles of national selection rules, he can look further afield.
The Top 14 is an obvious destination for Farrell to look, with some genuine contenders playing in the league.
Then-Racing 92’s flyhalf Finn Russell made the tour in 2021, Toulon’s Leigh Halfpenny did in 2017 and Bayonne’s Mike Phillips and Toulon’s Gethin Jenkins made the squad four years before that, so it is not an untrodden path for Lions coaches to pick players outside the traditional leagues.
And with more and more class heading over to France, it must be looking more appealing by the week for Farrell. So here is an ‘Overseas Lions XV’:
1. Mako Vunipola (Vannes)
Only eight players have more caps for the British & Irish Lions than former England loosehead Mako Vunipola, who amassed nine caps over three tours. The 33-year-old announced his international retirement earlier this year before ending his 13-year association with Saracens to join newly promoted Top 14 outfit Vannes.
2. Dylan Richardson (Sharks)
South African-born Scotland hooker Dylan Richardson earned his second cap almost three injury-plagued years after his first in Scotland’s recent win over Canada. Capable of playing hooker and flanker, the Sharks forward’s versatility is always useful on a tour.
3. Kyle Sinckler (Toulon)
Lions tourist in 2017 and 2021 Kyle Sinckler has already hinted at an England return after his current spell with Toulon, and he may indeed harbour an ambition to don the red jersey again. A strong debut season in the Top 14 and who knows?
4. Jonny Gray (Bordeaux-Begles)
Out of action for over a year with a knee injury, Jonny Gray recently signed with Bordeaux and the 30-year-old will have his sights set on breaking back into Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad this year.
5. David Ribbans (Toulon)
A member of England’s World Cup squad last year, David Ribbans joined Toulon at the conclusion of the tournament and was captaining the Top 14 club in no time. His new Toulon deal likely ended his England career, but is an option for Farrell nevertheless.
6. Courtney Lawes (Brive)
Had the Lions tour been this summer, there is little to no doubt that Courtney Lawes would be in Australia currently despite being retired from England duty, such was his form for Northampton Saints last season. He could very well make his third tour next year, but a season in Pro D2 with Brive may scupper the 35-year-old’s chances.
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse)
After winning the Investec Champions Cup and Top 14 double this year, producing monumental efforts in both finals, Jack Willis would be in the England squad on merit alone. While Steve Borthwick is barred from picking the flanker, Farrell will not be, meaning he is not only a strong candidate to make selection, but even the starting XV.
8. Sam Simmonds (Montpellier)
Former England No.8 Sam Simmonds will be joined by his former England back-row colleague Billy Vunipola at the GGL Stadium next season, where they will both be vying for the same jersey again. Despite struggling for years to break into Eddie Jones’ England team, the former Exeter Chiefs star made Warren Gatland’s Lions squad in 2021, earning one cap. A lot has changed in four years, but could history repeat itself?
9. Ben White (Toulon)
Scotland’s scrumhalf Ben White made the move to Toulon following the demise of his former club London Irish last year, but ended up signing on to stay on the Cote d’Azur until 2026. A player who benefits from Scotland’s more relaxed attitude to overseas players than England, Wales and Ireland.
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon)
A Wales great and a two-time Lions tourist, Dan Biggar spent last season at Toulon seemingly on the verge of retirement any day, but he will still be at the Stade Mayol next season, though his days of international rugby may be behind him.
11. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears)
A player who always brings out his A-game for the Lions, Liam Williams returned to the Wales squad for their recent tour of Australia after missing the Six Nations while with Japan Rugby League One’s Kubota Spears. A third tour may not be out of the realms of possibility for the Welshman despite being 34 at the time of the tour.
12. Owen Farrell (Racing 92)
Probably the headline transfer to the Top 14 this summer, former England captain Owen Farrell could very likely be making his fourth Lions tour should his debut season with Racing 92 go to plan. Though he would have been out of international rugby for almost two years by the time of next year’s tour, the 112-cap England international is one player who could definitely make the step up.
13. Manu Tuilagi (Bayonne)
Bayonne-bound Manu Tuilagi may have ended his England career with his move to the Top 14, but the door is open for the Lions. Floats somewhere between ‘no chance’ and ‘a possible’ to make the plane Down Under.
14. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse)
A midseason switch to European rugby’s most successful side only boosted Blair Kinghorn’s chances of making the Lions, but surely even the Scot himself did not expect his life at the Stade Ernest-Wallon to take off like it has. Forced Melvyn Jaminet out of the club with his arrival (which ended up being a good move for Toulouse for other reasons) and vying with France fullback Thomas Ramos for the No.15 shirt.
15. Stuart Hogg (Montpellier)
No one knows what the future holds for Stuart Hogg, but as things stand, he will be playing for Montpellier next season a year after announcing his retirement. On talent alone, he is a Lions contender if he is anything like what he was before retiring, but that may be unlikely.
Bench
16. Harry Williams (Pau)
17. Will Rowlands (Racing 92)
18. Ultan Dillane (La Rochelle)
19. Billy Vunipola (Montpellier)
20. Joey Carbery (Bordeaux-Begles)
21. Henry Arundell (Racing 92)
22. Jack Nowell (La Rochelle)
23. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)
