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Where are they now? The 42-player 2021 British and Irish Lions squad
By Liam Heagney
The upcoming British and Irish Lions tour to Australia under Andy Farrell will dominate the rugby headlines in 2025, but what became of the 2021 Warren Gatland squad that lost its Test series 1-2 to South Africa behind closed doors in Cape Town?
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Gatland selected 42 players in total – 37 in his original squad with five more added along the way. Of the 13 English, 12 Welsh, nine Irish and eight Scots involved, 23 became Test starters against the Springboks, eight more featured off the bench while 11 had no Test series involvement.
Nine players started all three Test games, with Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw and England’s Maro Itoje playing all 240 minutes of the series staged in front of zero spectators at the DHL Stadium due to the global pandemic.
After a 22-17 first Test win was followed by 9-27 and 16-19 losses, the Lions exited South Africa feeling pain, disappointment and regret.
They managed just two tries – from hookers Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ken Owens – in their three Test matches and they broke up with expletives from skipper Alun Wyn Jones ringing in their ears.
“I just want to grab everyone now before we all split off,” he said in Two Sides, the three-part fly on the wall documentary series currently showing on RugbyPass TV. “Just one thing, whoever is f***in’ out on the next one do a job. Right, do a f***in’ big job. Wish you the best of luck. Thank you everyone.”
Here is what became of the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad that consisted of 17 backs and 25 forwards:
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FULL-BACK (2)
Stuart Hogg – Scotland
2 Test starts (160 mins): Quit playing at the age of 31 in July 2023, but the ex-Exeter player’s TV career was shelved due to off-field shenanigans. Has since come out of retirement to play for Montpellier in the 2024/25 French season but was given a non-harassment order last week by a court in Scotland.
Liam Williams – Wales
1 Test start + 1 Test as sub (90 mins): Provided the tear-jerking moment in the fly-on-the-wall documentary with his emotional reflection on why he didn’t pass to an in-the-clear Josh Adams in the third Test. Involved with Wales on their Australian tour last July, he moved from Scarlets to Cardiff in summer 2022 and is now debuting back at Saracens this weekend following a Japanese stint with Kubota Spears.
WING (4)
Josh Adams – Wales
1 Test start (80 mins): His wife giving birth in Wales while Adams was in South Africa featured in the tour documentary. Has recently returned to play with Cardiff following a lengthy injury lay-off.
Louis Rees-Zammit – Wales
0 Test involvement: The Gloucester winger sensationally quit rugby in January 2024 before Wales selected their Guinness Six Nations squad to try out American football. Was initially signed by Kansas City Chiefs but transferred to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad before the NFL season started in September.
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Duhan van der Merwe – Scotland
3 Test starts (230 mins): Would have played every minute of the Test series but for a second Test yellow card. His post-tour switch to Worcester ended in disaster with the club’s September 2022 demise. Returned to Edinburgh and an extension through to 2027 was confirmed last Wednesday. Still a Scotland regular.
Anthony Watson – England
2 Test starts (160 mins): Was unhappy exiting Bath in the summer of 2022, but Leicester continue to look after him despite an injury-hit run that has limited his England availability to just five caps since the Lions tour.
Picture perfect with @anthonywatson_ ? pic.twitter.com/5l1qQ76GDe
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) December 5, 2024
CENTRE (4)
Bundee Aki – Ireland
1 Test start (80 mins): So good was his 2023 form with Ireland he was a World Rugby player of the year nominee. Still at Connacht, the province he joined in 2014, but set to turn 35 next April. Is the subject of transfer speculation to the Top 14 even though he remains involved at Test level.
Elliot Daly – England
1 Test start + 1 Test as sub + 1 Test as unused sub (97 mins): Still shining at Saracens, but could be at a Test career crossroads as was unused by England last month despite being a selection favourite of Steve Borthwick’s at Rugby World Cup 2023 and in the subsequent Guinness Six Nations.
Chris Harris – Scotland
1 Test start (61 mins): Continues to line out regularly at Gloucester but hasn’t been capped by Scotland since a fringe part at World Cup 2023.
Robbie Henshaw – Ireland
3 Test starts (240 mins): One of only two players to play every minute of the 2021 Lions Test series, he will be looking for 2025 selection under Farrell as he remains in the groove with Leinster and Ireland.
OUT-HALF (4)
Dan Biggar – Wales
3 Test starts (133 mins), 23pts (7P 1C): Quit Northampton for Toulon in winter 2022 and retired from Test rugby following World Cup 2023. Is still in France but the 35-year-old’s appearances have been limited this term. Has released his autobiography and is increasingly busy with rugby punditry.
Owen Farrell – England
2 Tests as sub (39 mins), 3pts (1P): Stepped back from England involvement following World Cup 2023 but retains hopes of 2025 Lions tour selection despite currently being sidelined following a groin operation last month at Racing 92, the club he joined in the summer from Saracens.
Finn Russell – Scotland
1 Test sub (70 mins), 11pts (3P, 1C): Was at Racing when picked for the Lions, illustrating that you don’t need to be based in the four home nations for selection. Still an integral part of the Scotland set-up, he switched to Bath in summer 2023 and has ignited their attack.
Marcus Smith – England
0 Test involvement: Mid-tour call-up as a precaution due to a Russell injury, he became England’s first-choice 10 under Eddie Jones but the Australian’s sacking led to a difficult time under Borthwick. It was only last month when the Harlequins talisman – who extended his Stoop stay on Thursday through to 2028 – properly regained the out-half starting shirt after an in-out two years.
Enjoy, the very best of Finn Russell ??
?????????
Fabulous footwork ?
Impossible Offloads ?
Outrageous Passes ?
Ridiculous Kicks ?— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) November 15, 2023
SCRUM-HALF (3)
Gareth Davies – Wales
0 Test involvement: Still a mainstay at Scarlets, he announced his Test rugby retirement in mid-October before Gatland announced his 2024 Autumn Nations Series squad.
Conor Murray – Ireland
1 Test start + 2 Tests as sub (96 mins): Tour captain when Jones was absent, he is now in the twilight of his career at the age of 35. Still playing for Munster and Ireland but his involvements are mostly off the bench.
Ali Price – Scotland
2 Test starts + 1 Test as sub (144 mins): Made the switch from Glasgow to Edinburgh last season and is expected to take up a two-year deal at Montpellier from 2025/26. Lost his first choice status with Scotland in 2023 and hasn’t been able to get it back.
LOOSEHEAD (4)
Wyn Jones – Wales
1 Test start (43 mins): Exited Scarlets after 11 seasons to hook up with Harlequins this year as injury cover. Expect that deal to be extended with Joe Marler now retired. Still eligible for Wales but hasn’t been selected by Gatland since Six Nations 2023.
Andrew Porter – Ireland
0 Test involvement: Heartbroken when a toe injured sustained on Rainbow Cup duty with Leinster ruled him out before the tour squad assembled on Jersey. Has since bounced back, remaining a clear first choice pick for club and country.
Rory Sutherland – Scotland
1 Test start + 1 Test as sub (81 mins): Another Lion left high and dry by his post-tour switch from Edinburgh to Worcester. Hunkered down at Ulster and Oyonnax before signing for Glasgow last summer. Has slipped down the Scotland pecking order, only subbing in all four matches last month.
Mako Vunipola – England
1 Test start + 2 Tests as sub (116 mins): Reduced to a bench role for Six Nations 2023, his World Cup absence was followed by his Test retirement and a decision to cross the Channel, swapping Saracens for an adventure at Vannes, the Top 14 newcomers.
HOOKER (4)
Luke Cowan-Dickie – England
2 Test starts + 1 Test as sub (138 mins), 5pts (1T): Bedevilled by injury in recent years, severely limiting his Test career. Was due to join Montpellier from Exeter in 2023 but that offer was withdrawn. Sale came to his rescue but he is now the subject of speculation that he could move to France next summer.
Jamie George – England
0 Test involvement: Outmanoeuvred on the tour by country colleague Cowan-Dickie, he has dominated the England No2 shirt since then. Was appointed skipper last January by Borthwick but no longer plays as long as he used to, drawing attention to his captaincy. Still a pivotal part at Saracens.
Ronan Kelleher – Ireland
0 Test involvement: Trained on Jersey to make up the numbers but didn’t travel until after a mid-tour call-up. Was expected to become his country’s regular hooker but Dan Sheehan – when fit – is the more favoured No2 with Ireland and Leinster.
Ken Owens – Wales
1 Test start + 2 Tests as sub (102 mins), 5pts (1T): Became Wales’ 2023 Six Nations skipper but a back injury with Scarlets ruled him out of the World Cup. Eventually retired last April at the age of 37 without making it back onto the pitch.
TIGHTHEAD (3)
Zander Fagerson – Scotland
0 Test involvement: Didn’t break through on tour but remains an integral first choice for Scotland and Glasgow.
Tadhg Furlong – Ireland
3 Test starts (164 mins): Has continued to be vital for Ireland and Leinster, but injury ruled the 32-year-old out of the recent Autumn Nations Series and his IRFU central contract is up for renewal at the end of the season.
Kyle Sinckler – England
3 Tests as sub (61 mins): Having slipped down the England pecking order at World Cup 2023, he decided his future was best served away from the international scene. Exited Bristol last summer and joined Toulon.
.@EnglandRugby ? @Arsenal ?@O2 | #WearTheRose pic.twitter.com/Se6VHWZQaK
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) December 5, 2024
SECOND ROW (6)
Adam Beard – Wales
1 Test as sub (20 mins): Currently nursing a knee injury sustained with Wales last month, the long-serving Ospreys player is poised for a Top 14 switch with Montpellier said to be leading the chase.
Tadhg Beirne – Ireland
2 Tests as sub (18 mins): The Munster forward’s IRFU deal expires next summer. He is well placed to be well remunerated as he continues to be a key part of Farrell’s Ireland XV.
Iain Henderson – Ireland
0 Test involvement: Recently signed a new deal at Ulster, but his IRFU central contract status expires next summer as he has slipped down the Ireland pecking order. All five caps in 2024 were as a sub.
Jonny Hill – England
0 Test involvement: Started his first game in nearly a year on Friday night following injury and disciplinary issues at Sale, the club he joined from Exeter in summer 2022. Has just a single cap so far in Borthwick’s England tenure.
Maro Itoje – England
3 Test starts (240 mins): Continues to be an ever-present feature on the field, being one of just three England players to play all 320 minutes in their recent Autumn Nations Series. Was linked with a move away from Saracens but signed a long-term extension last winter.
Alun Wyn Jones – Wales
3 Test starts (220 mins): The tour’s miracle man, shrugging off a serious shoulder injury to skipper the Test team. Retired from playing in 2023 as the world’s most capped Test player, finishing up with a short-term deal at Toulon after being at Ospreys for his entire career.
BACK ROW (8)
Jack Conan – Ireland
3 Test starts (199 mins): Has fallen well behind Caelan Doris on the Irish front, starting just four Tests since Six Nations 2022. In demand in France with his contract set to expire but revealed last weekend he will stay at Leinster.
Tom Curry – England
3 Test starts (216 mins): Has endured a horrid run with injury and needed a career-saving hip operation last December just weeks after being subjected to an alleged racist remark from South Africa at the World Cup. One of England’s newly enhanced EPS contracted players, his deal at Sale is up for renewal.
Taulupe Faletau
1 Test sub (21 mins): Ended a six-season stint at Bath in summer 2022 by joining Cardiff. Hasn’t played for Wales since last year’s World Cup but he returned this weekend to play his first club match since last April’s broken shoulder.
Courtney Lawes – England
3 Test starts (222 mins): Was his country’s most consistent player at World Cup 2023 and although he announced his Test retirement, he harbours hopes of making the 2025 Lions despite playing at Pro D2 level in France this season at Brive. Fairy tale finish with Northampton, captaining them to Premiership glory last June.
Josh Navidi – Wales
0 Test involvement: Retired in April 2023 at the age of 32 following a serious neck injury that had sidelined him after eight games for Cardiff and three for Wales in 2021/22. Now working in sales for New Broad Street Motors and as a part-time DJ.
Sam Simmonds – England
1 Test as sub (20 mins): Played two more seasons for Exeter before heading across the Channel where he is now in his second year at Montpellier but tipped to join Lyon next season. Made 11 post-tour England appearances but wasn’t picked after Borthwick succeeded Eddie Jones.
Justin Tipuric – Wales
0 Test involvement: Still playing at Ospreys but will retire at the end of this season to become the regional team’s defence coach. Finished up with Wales following Six Nations 2023.
Hamish Watson – Scotland
1 Test as sub (24 mins): Out of contract at Edinburgh at the end of this season, he has currently lost his place on the team. Last involved with Scotland at last year’s World Cup where he made just a single appearance.
Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now
