British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has announced his squad for the first Test against Australia, set to take place at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The team features a record eight Irish players in the starting XV, the highest number since 2009, with seven Irish starters and three Irish on the bench. Notable inclusions are Tadhg Beirne, who secured the blindside flanker position after a strong performance, and Tom Curry, who was chosen over Jac Morgan for the openside flanker role. The squad also includes Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, and Maro Itoje, who will captain the side. The backline features Hugo Keenan at fullback, James Lowe, Tommy Freeman, and a Scottish midfield pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, with Finn Russell at fly-half. Marcus Smith, despite a challenging season, was named on the bench, benefiting from injuries to other players. Farrell emphasized the importance of performance and motivation, acknowledging the Wallabies as a dangerous and well-organized team. The match is scheduled for Saturday and will be broadcast on Sky Sports and talkSPORT. The selection reflects Farrell’s strategic choices, favoring experience and versatility, and marks a historic moment as the first Lions Test without Welsh representation since the 1890s.