FinSmith

A meteoric rise in 2025 for Fin Smith will culminate with selection for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia.

The England and Northampton Saints fly-half only made his first Test start for England during the 2025 Guinness Six Nations but has done enough to earn a call up for his maiden Lions Tour.

Growing up in Warwick, Smith joined the Worcester Warriors academy and made his professional debut at just 18 in a clash with Gloucester in 2021.

That same year, he was part of the England Under-20s team that won the Grand Slam, starting four of the five games.

Smith joined Northampton Saints in 2022 following Worcester entering into administration, and he quickly earned game time with his new club.

Two-time Lions tourist, Dan Biggar’s departure during that season gave Smith increased opportunity to progress and he quickly cemented his place as first choice for the club.

He enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023/24 with arguably his finest performance coming in a win away to Munster in the Champions Cup in which he kicked 16 points including a crucial drop goal as Saints won at Thomond Park despite playing more than half the game with 14 men.

Smith made his England debut a fortnight later against Italy and then helped Northampton to a first Premiership title in a decade as they beat Bath in the Twickenham final.

Since that campaign, he has not looked back, touring Japan and New Zealand with England last summer before an appearance off the bench against the Brave Blossoms last November.

Smith then took on added responsibility during the 2025 Six Nations, where he was a replacement for the opening game against Ireland before starting the next four.

That included a Player of the Match display against eventual champions France in his first start, kicking the penalty that clinched a one-point win over Les Bleus.

Since then, he has helped Northampton reach a Champions Cup final and now has a first Lions Tour to look forward to.