- Date of Birth25 / 04 / 1993
- Lions Tours2025
- International CapsIreland (73 caps)
- Lions Origin SchoolsWesley College, University College Dublin
- Lions Origin ClubsWicklow
The experienced and consistent Josh van der Flier embarked on his first Lions Tour to Australia in 2025.
His selection was the latest accolade to a storied career at the age of 32, and featured in four matches, crossing for a try against the Brumbies.
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. He then started every game of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations to play his way on to the Lions plane.
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.