TadhgFurlong

Tadhg Furlong had less than 20 Ireland caps when he was selected by Warren Gatland for The British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand in 2017 – but such was the young prop’s quality, he started every Test. 

Four years later when he was again selected by Gatland for the Tour to South Africa, the Irishman had firmly established himself as one of, if not the best tighthead in world rugby with more than 50 international appearances to his name.

And that remains his status as he returns for a third Tour, this time selected by Andy Farrell as he bids to add to his six Lions caps.

A powerful, technically proficient scrummager who is rarely bettered by his opposite number at the set-piece, Furlong also offers a carrying threat unmatched by most other No.3s.

From a farming background in Wexford, the front-rower came through the ranks at New Ross RFC and Clontarf before making his senior debut for Leinster in 2013 .

His Test debut came against Wales two years later and though it took until June 2016 against South Africa for Furlong to earn a first international start, he truly established himself as a key cog in November that year, starting three of the four Tests, including the memorable win over New Zealand in Chicago.

An impressive Six Nations campaign in 2017 led to a Lions call-up, where he made his debut in the famous red jersey off the bench against the New Zealand Barbarians before starting against the Crusaders and the Maori All Blacks.

Impressive front-row displays alongside Mako Vunipola and Jamie George were enough to secure the tighthead prop a Test spot as he completed 338 minutes in total during the Tour. 

The Irishman was superb in all three Tests, as the Lions front row held firm against an intimidating All Blacks pack to secure a series draw.

The following year, 2018, the prop was a key figure in Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam, summer tour victory over Australia – where he scored his first international try in the second Test victory – and the autumn triumph over New Zealand in Dublin. 

By this point, Furlong was one of the world’s premier tighthead props and he notched two tries at the 2019 World Cup before returning from back and calf injuries that sidelined him for almost a year for the 2021 Six Nations.

Gatland subsequently pegged him for a second Lions call-up and after playing in three warm-up matches, Furlong started in all three Tests against South Africa and proved to be one of the Lions’ most consistent performers.

He helped Ireland to further Six Nations glory in 2023 and 2024, also appearing at all five of his country’s matches in the 2023 World Cup, to cement his place in Andy Farrell’s thoughts when it came to Lions selection once more.