Thomas Clarkson Joins Irish Contingent in British and Irish Lions Squad

The Irish dominance of the 2025 British and Irish Lions continues as Thomas Clarkson, the tighthead prop, has been called up to the squad in Australia. He joins as cover for the first Test against the Wallabies on Saturday. Clarkson, who recently played his eighth game for Ireland in a match against Portugal, is the eighteenth Irish player and fourteenth from Leinster to be called up by head coach Andy Farrell. The 25-year-old, who had a successful season with 26 games and three tries, receives his dream Lions call-up. The reason for his call-up, whether injury-related or not, has not been confirmed by the Lions. Tadhg Furlong is expected to start in the first Test, with Will Stuart and Finlay Bealham also available after the last game. With one more mid-week game before the Test, Farrell may be preserving his Test tightheads. Clarkson is the third recent addition to the squad, following Jamie George and Jamie Osborne.