Joshvan der Flier

Josh van der Flier is proving that experience and consistency are key, after being selected for his maiden British & Irish Lions Tour.

The Ireland openside flanker will travel to Australia for the 2025 Tour, the latest accolade to a storied career at the age of 32.

Having made his club debut for Leinster back in October 2014 against Zebre, he quickly rose through the ranks and received a senior international call-up for the 2016 Six Nations, debuting for Ireland against England at Twickenham.

An injury in the opening game of the 2018 Six Nations meant that he played only a small role in that year’s Grand Slam, while he was also injured for the Champions Cup final win over Racing 92 that year.

Van der Flier re-established himself as first choice for Ireland leading into the 2019 World Cup and then enjoyed perhaps his finest year to date in 2022. 

He was named EPCR Player of the Year as he helped Leinster reach the Champions Cup final, before being crowned World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year following a stellar 12 months for Ireland, notably with a series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

The following year, he was a big part of the Ireland team that claimed the Grand Slam, before clinching another Six Nations title the following year.

Heading into a Lions year, Van der Flier started all four of Ireland's 2024 Autumn Nations Series, scoring tries against the All Blacks, Fiji and Australia to clinch the title of Player of the Series.

After starting every game of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations, Van der Flier will now have the chance to tour with The British & Irish Lions for the first time.

He is of Dutch descent on his father's side, his grandparents having moved to Ireland from the Netherlands in the 1950s to open a radiator factory.