Owen Farrell’s call up to the British and Irish Lions squad has been confirmed, with Elliot Daly ruled out of the remainder of the tour with a fractured forearm.

Head coach Andy Farrell has also named Fin Smith at fly-half for Saturday’s match against the New South Wales Waratahs – live on Sky Sports at 11am (build-up from 10am).

Ireland’s Hugo Keenan, Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn and England’s Ben Earl will make their Lions debuts.

Owen Farrell, 33, has not played international rugby since taking a break after the 2023 World Cup and will join his fourth tour with the Lions, having been part of the 2013, 2017 and 2021 editions.

After 16 years at Saracens, Farrell joined French side Racing 92 last year, but struggled with injuries before returning to Saracens this summer.

He has not played competitive rugby for nine weeks after suffering a concussion, but in May – when Andy Farrell was naming his Lions squad – he confirmed his son was in contention.

Daly sustained the injury after tackling Jock Campbell in the second half before travelling to hospital in a sling to undergo an X-ray.

The England utility back has started both games in Australia at full-back after becoming a late matchday entry into the line-up against the Reds in place of the ill Hugo Keenan.

“It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours,” said head coach Farrell.

“Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”

Farrell will join the squad on Friday night and his father Andy insists his son is “fit” and “ready to go”.

“He’s what we need for the squad with Elliot going and Blair coming in. The options we have at 15, there are plenty of options at 13 and wing are a little vulnerable, in and around the 12 piece, and he can play 10 as well,” he said.

“When you look at the experience Elliot had, it’s not just the playing side, it’s how you make the group feel, the little chats you have, and Owen will bring a lot of that into the group.

“Owen is fit otherwise he wouldn’t be picked. The guys have been keeping close touch with him and others in regards to that. He’s been training fully for quite some time now. If he didn’t have the chance [of playing], what’s the point? Everyone is competing.”

Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will captain the Lions side that will face the Waratahs as Maro Itoje gets the weekend off, while Earl named at No 8 alongside flankers Henry Pollock and Josh van der Flier.

“Congratulations to Tadhg who will lead the side on Saturday night – and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts,” said Farrell.

“The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”

British and Irish Lions side to face New South Wales Waratahs – live on Sky Sports

British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Tadhg Beirne (c), 5 James Ryan, 6 Henry Pollock, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ben White, 23 Marcus Smith.

Waratahs: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson; 1 Tom Lambert, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Miles Amatosero, 6 Rob Leota, 7 Charlie Gamble, 8 Hugh Sinclair (c).

Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Henry O’Donnell.

British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.

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