Farrell considering France-based players for Lions tour of Australia / Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT - AFP/File
-
World Cup warning with Sweden star Isak 'getting stronger and stronger'
-
'Like China': Cubans welcome reforms but exiles remain skeptical
-
Tunisia coach says 'I am no wizard' after World Cup SOS call
-
USA down Australia to reach World Cup knockout rounds
-
USA beat Australia 2-0 to reach World Cup knockouts
-
Imperious Dupont guides record-breaking Toulouse to Top 14 final
-
Qatar-gifted Air Force One replacement unveiled
-
Venezuelan opposition figure heads to US after transition talks
-
Niemann fires 65 at US Open after upsetting two-shot penalty
-
Canada star Kone to miss rest of World Cup after surgery: team
-
Spain's Yamal says 'too soon' to play full match at World Cup
-
Confident Fitzpatrick makes a run at another US Open title
-
Neymar? He is working remotely at the World Cup, jokes Lula
-
England captain Stokes strikes for Durham as Test recall looms
-
Three-time Stanley Cup champion Toews retires
-
Clark wants to win back fans as well as US Open title
-
Japan wary of fired up and wounded Tunisia for World Cup landmark game
-
Clark leads as fellow major winners charge at US Open
-
'Like a fridge': France cave homes offer lucky few respite from heat
-
Ton-up Nicholls turns the screw for New Zealand against England
-
Hormuz ship traffic climbs after war deal: trackers
-
Sun shines on jockey Lee at Royal Ascot
-
Kane hails World Cup 'Wonderwall' singalong as England highlight
-
Oil edges back up, shares steady after US-Iran talks postponed
-
Sabalenka roars back to make Berlin WTA semis
-
Europe swelters as more heat records set to tumble
-
Narvaez takes Swiss Tour third stage after 100km breakaway
-
'There's no soul': Tony Leung weighs in on AI in filmmaking
-
Europe swelters as temperature records tumble
-
From Versailles to a Swiss mountain: a week of dizzying Iran diplomacy
-
French mountain lodges worry over strained water supply
-
Coach tells S. Korea to move on fast with World Cup knockouts in reach
-
Heatwave hits more than one in two people in France
-
Henry strikes as New Zealand strengthen grip against England
-
Zverev sets up Fritz semi at Halle Open
-
England captain Stokes in action for Durham as Test recall looms
-
Clark stumbles but still leads by two at US Open
-
Moutet fined over x-rated Queen's Club rant
-
Ogura pulls off stunner to top Czech MotoGP practices
-
Outrage in Italy after Trump says Meloni 'begged' for photo op
-
Turkey bars public World Cup screening over university entrance exam
-
From birds to fish, how extreme heat causes wildlife to suffer
-
Ebola spreading 'fast' in DR Congo, warns WHO
-
Trapped on Everest for days, Nepali survivor recounts escape
-
The Sun may not engulf Earth after all, scientists say
-
Clark leads by three as US Open second round begins
-
Russia signals slower rate cuts amid high Ukraine war spending
-
Fritz gets revenge on Shelton to reach Halle semis
-
Henry strikes as New Zealand lead England by 100 runs in 2nd Test
-
Heatwave hits more than half of France's population
Farrell considering France-based players for Lions tour of Australia
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is "open-minded" when it comes to selecting France-based players, including son Owen, for the upcoming tour of Australia.
Farrell named his five assistant coaches -- Simon Easterby, Richard Wigglesworth, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty -- on Wednesday for the three-Test series against the Wallabies.
Farrell, seconded from his role as Ireland coach, suggested 75 players were still in contention to make the squad which will be announced on May 8.
Several France-based players are still in the mix, even though any appearing in the Top 14 final would miss the Lions' opening two fixtures, against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 and the Western Force in Perth eight days later.
Toulouse duo Blair Kinghorn and Jack Willis are the most likely to be involved in the Top 14 showpiece, while former England captains Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes are also now with French teams.
"We're open-minded about all of that," Farrell told reporters on Wednesday.
"We could have a conversation with some clubs over there (France), they might release them. These things will be ongoing."
Owen Farrell is already a three-time Lions tourist but the fly-half's first season at Racing 92 has been hampered by a groin injury.
Asked about selecting his son for the tour, Andy Farrell replied: "Same as everyone else. He's just coming back from injury. You keep an eye on everything."
There is no representative in Farrell's coaching team from Wales, who suffered a second successive wooden spoon finish in this season's Six Nations and are on a woeful run of 17 successive Test defeats.
"I know that's idealistic for everyone (to have all four nations represented), but surely this has to be done on merit for who fits?," Farrell said.
England's Maro Itoje and Ireland's Caelan Doris are the leading contenders to captain the Lions.
"Obviously he (the captain) has got to have the respect, not just as a player and not just as a leader within the changing room, but as a leader in the way that he handles himself in the entirety of what a Lions captain should be," Farrell said.
A.Ruiz--AT
