Wales locked out of Lions as Curry named to start first test

Find out what’s new on ST website and app.

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - British Irish Lions v Argentina - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - June 20, 2025 British Irish Lions Tom Curry in action REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo

BRISBANE - Tom Curry was named at openside flanker in the British amp; Irish Lions team for the first test against Australia on Saturday, ensuring the tourists would field a test team without a Welshman for the first time since the late 19th century.

Welsh hopes of a presence in the side had rested on poacher Jac Morgan but coach Andy Farrell preferred the proven quality of Englands Curry in the starting side with Ben Earl and Ollie Chessum covering the loose forwards on the bench.

(Jac) was as close as you can imagine, Farrell told a news conference. Look, youre actually gutted for players like that who ... could well easily be in this side on Saturday. But I suppose that shows the good place that were at as a group.

Farrell has gone for a conventional number eight in Jack Conan at the back of the scrum with his Ireland teammate Tadhg Beirne completing the back row at blindside flanker.

We feel that thats the right balance for the first test, Farrell said.

The combination of Tadhgs quality in the set piece and his all-around ability, either on the floor as a jackal or a ball playing six. That complements Jack also in a similar regard, with Tom being the engine that we all know.

Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park,