The race to be the 2025 Lions captain is the toughest to predict in many years, as we enter into a new generation without the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Johnny Sexton.
Andy Farrell is yet to confirm his pick for Ireland's next captain, while Owen Farrell's decision to take a break from international rugby adds further uncertainty.
Below we have taken a look at six candidates, with odds taken from BonusCodeBets.
READ HERE: Stephen Jones At It Again With Bizarre Lions Squad Selection
2025 Lions Tour Captain Candidates
Evens – James Ryan
The Leinster co-captain is the current bookies favourite to lead the Lions in 2025, with odds of 1/1.
For many he is the most obvious choice to lead Ireland in the post-Sexton era, and his form over the last year would suggest that he is likely to be selected for the Lions if fit.
Ryan has captained every side he has played for since his school days, and since 1997, every Lions tour has been lead by a forward bar Brian O'Driscoll' ill-fated tenure in 2005.
However, his captaincy credentials have been called into question this season after provoking the ire of the referee in both of Leinster's opening Champions Cup games, leading them to ask for the services of Garry Ringrose instead.
6 October 2023; James Ryan, right, and Jack Conan during an Ireland rugby captain's run at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
4/1 – Maro Itoje
Itoje, like Ryan, has been one of Europe's leading locks over the past 5-6 seasons, and also looks likely to lead his side into the 2024 Six Nations Championship, due to the unavailability of England's generational and talismanic out-half captain, and the international retirement of Courtney Lawes.
His performances in the World Cup showed a return to his disruptive best, and he also looks nailed on to tour next year.
It will be his third outing with the Lions, having gone to New Zealand as a 22-year-old in 2017, before being voted Lions Player of the series by his peers in 2021.
7 August 2021; Maro Itoje of British and Irish Lions evades the tackle of Eben Etzebeth of South Africa during the third test of the British and Irish Lions tour match between South Africa and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile
5/1 – Jac Morgan
Morgan looks a natural leader of men, having co-captained Wales at the recent World Cup, just a year-and-a-half after making his international debut.
For many he would be first-choice openside if the team were being picked tomorrow, but such is the competition in the back row that selection for the squad, let alone a starting berth, is far from a guarantee.
4 February 2023; Peter O’Mahony of Ireland is tackled by Jac Morgan and Rhys Carre of Wales during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
10/1 -Jamie Ritchie
7 October 2023; Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie and Jamison Gibson-Park of Ireland speak with referee Nic Berry during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Scotland at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
16/1 – Owen Farrell
20/1 – Peter O’Mahony
It would be a great story, wouldn't it?
He has been counted out for Ireland in the past but always proves his worth, and the last two years have been his best in a green jersey.
Should Farrell choose him as captain of Ireland for the upcoming Six Nations, his odds will shorten immensely.
He lead the Lions in the first test in 2017, and there would be no question over the respect the British players will have for him.
His position as Ireland's and Munster's first-choice blindside will become harder to retain, with Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird, and Tom Ahern all playing great rugby.
24 June 2017; Peter O'Mahony of the British & Irish Lions faces the haka during the First Test match between New Zealand All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Other Candidates
It would be a surprise for the captain not to be one of the six mentioned, but should Borthwick or Farrell go with a left-field pick for captain of their country, they will enter into race.
The likes of Caelan Doris, Garry Ringrose, and Jamie George could all be in contention next year.
Courtney Lawes captained England at the World Cup in the absence of Owen Farrell, but he will surely need to be playing international rugby to be in with a chance of making it as a back row.
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