British and Irish Lions

Charlie Elliott: Grading every player from the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour

by
Charlie Elliott
4 August 2025

The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour ended on a disappointing note for the visitors, with the Wallabies saving their best for last in a 22-12 win in Sydney.

It stopped the Lions from claiming a 3-0 whitewash and reminded everyone just how close this series was.

Despite taking the series 2-1, the Lions never quite hit their stride, losing four out of six halves and scraping by on points overall.

Hugo Keenan’s controversial try in the second Test turned out to be the difference in the series, which sums up just how narrowly Andy Farrell’s side ended up winning.

Here is each player’s grade for the tour, based on their performances.

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Tadhg Beirne – A+

He wasn’t at his best in the warm-ups, but once the Tests kicked off, he stepped up in a big way. Beirne was physical, sharp, and influential at just the right moments. Farrell’s gamble to pick him paid off.

Tom Curry – A+

Curry didn’t stand out early on, but when the real pressure arrived, he showed up. He was everywhere in the Tests, working tirelessly and making a real difference at the breakdown.

Dan Sheehan – A+

One of the best players on tour. Sheehan’s work rate, athleticism, and presence around the pitch stood out. He earned the No. 2 shirt and never looked back.

Finn Russell – A

Russell was one of the standout backs across the tour. While the third Test wasn’t his best, he had already done more than enough to cement his impact. He might have hoped for more, but overall had a strong series.

Will Stuart – A

Came off the bench with real purpose and brought serious power. A key figure in the squad, he did everything asked of him and more.

Andrew Porter – A

Consistent and effective throughout the tour. His physicality in the scrum, especially in the second Test, helped give the Lions the upper hand.

Jack Conan – A-

Stepped up in Caelan Doris’ absence and made the No. 8 jersey his own. He was solid in everything he did and a calm, reliable performer in the back row.

Jamison Gibson-Park – A-

Farrell’s clear first choice at scrum-half and justified it. Calm, composed, and efficient. He didn’t steal the headlines, but he kept the machine ticking.

Ellis Genge – A-

Made a big impact whenever he came off the bench. Brought energy and fire, and while he didn’t always start, he made sure his presence was felt.

Tadhg Furlong – A-

Stayed consistent across the tour. His scrummaging was dependable, and while he didn’t dominate the way he sometimes can, he brought stability and strength to the front row.

Maro Itoje – A-

Led the team well and played with heart. His performances may not have reached his top level, but his leadership was crucial to the Lions’ series win.

Huw Jones – B+

The best of the centres and always looked a threat. Played with real energy, scored in the second Test, and made the most of what was often a changing midfield setup.

Sione Tuipulotu – B+

Started strong with a solid performance in the opener, but was unlucky with an injury. Missed out on a potential starting spot in the Tests, but showed he was up to the task when fit.

Ollie Chessum – B+

Forced his way into the second Test lineup and played well. He was dropped for the third Test for tactical reasons, which didn’t reflect his performance.

Joe McCarthy – B+

Impressive in the first Test and looked like a major physical presence. Injury kept him out of the rest of the series, but he left a strong impression.

Hugo Keenan – B

Scored the winning try in the second Test, which alone made his tour meaningful. Otherwise, he was steady at fullback but not hugely impactful overall.

Ronan Kelleher – B

Quietly did a good job as the backup hooker. Never looked out of place and played his part well across the tour.

Jac Morgan – B

Represented Wales proudly and brought intensity whenever he played. The clearout on Tizzano will live long in the memory, even if he didn’t get as much time as he deserved.

Alex Mitchell – B

In every matchday squad, but had limited game time. When he did play, he was decent, but Farrell saw others ahead of him.

James Ryan – B

Played more than expected and was dependable in the second row. Didn’t do anything particularly flashy but added some needed depth.

Marcus Smith – B-

Had a useful role as a cover option across the backline but lost his place once Owen Farrell joined. Gave his best when on the field but lacked consistent involvement.

Tommy Freeman – B-

Always looked like he might do something special, but it never quite came together. Was lively and tried to get involved, but the final product just didn’t come.

Garry Ringrose – B-

Pulled himself from the second Test due to concussion symptoms, which was the right call. Outside of that, didn’t make a major impact and remained down the order.

Blair Kinghorn – B-

Had a disrupted tour due to injury and club duties, but made the most of his chances. Solid if not spectacular once he got going.

Henry Pollock – B-

Showed promise in the early matches and brought real energy. Didn’t feature in the Tests due to his inexperience, but he’s one for the future.

Mack Hansen – C+

Looked dangerous when he was on the field, but injury limited his tour. Might have had more of an influence if he’d stayed fit.

Scott Cummings – C+

Did well with the time he got, but wasn’t used much. Could have contributed more with greater trust from the coaching team.

Finlay Bealham – C+

Performed well in the midweek games, and that’s where his role was. Reliable and did what was needed of him in those matches.

Duhan van der Merwe – C

Had a couple of decent moments but never really got going. Limited Test time and couldn’t build momentum.

Pierre Schoeman – C

Struggled for minutes with others ahead of him. Hard to judge his tour too harshly, but he didn’t get the opportunity to make a mark.

Owen Farrell – C

Added experience to the squad, but his performances didn’t match the expectation. The noise surrounding his late inclusion didn’t help matters either.

Luke Cowan-Dickie – C-

Never looked fully comfortable and then picked up an injury. A frustrating tour for him.

Ben Earl – C-

Had a shot to make the No. 8 jersey his own, but never really took it. Didn’t make much of an impression.

Josh van der Flier – C-

Barely used, which was surprising. Hard to give a higher grade when you hardly feature.

Bundee Aki – D+

There were glimpses of his power and ability, but overall he didn’t get into his usual rhythm. Especially struggled in the final Test.

James Lowe – D

Struggled in both of his Test appearances. His kicking was off, and nothing really went his way despite his effort.

Fin Smith – D

Had limited chances and now seems to have slipped down the England order. Played alright in the warm-ups, but overall this was a quiet and disappointing tour.

By Charlie Elliott