THEY’RE the sporting superteam made up of the finest rugby players from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
The British & Irish Lions only come together once every four years to compete in a world tour – which kicks off tonight with a match against Argentina in Dublin before moving to Australia for Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Nika van der Merwe and her husband Duhan van der Merwe, 30Instagram/neeks_vdm
Fashion model Beth Dolling, 25, is dating English rugby player Marcus Smith
Emma Canning, 28, with partner Scottish rugby player Finn Russell, 32, and kids Instagram/@ec4nning
Emma is a former heptathlete Instagram/@ec4nning
The talented squad are followed by a legendary group of fans – known as the “Sea of Red”.
But their biggest supporters are closer to home – and will be cheering them from the touchline as they take on the Wallabies down under, as well as playing seven pre-Test matches.
Here we look at the loyal WAGS who celebrate every try alongside their very own Lionhearts.
Emma Canning and Finn Russell, Scotland
Former Scottish heptathlete, Emma Canning, 28, has been dating Scottish rugby player Finn Russell, 32, since 2017.
They had a brief split in 2021 but have since patched up their relationship and now share two daughters, Charlie, three, and Skye, one.
The family currently live in Bath, but prior to moving and becoming a mum, Emma was a promising track and field athlete.
Unfortunately, she suffered a stress fracture to her shin when she was just 19 which impacted her training and performance and led to an operation to put a metal plate in her leg.
In 2018, she took the decision to have the plate removed because she was “training in pain” but she was forced to take a lengthy break from competing, which left her admitting she “struggled mentally, emotionally and physically.”
This year she has returned to competitive athletics and recently hit back at a troll who commented: “Must be invigorating to know your only talent is to be in a relationship with a talented person.”
She replied: “Actually – there’s room for two Scottish athletes in our relationship. Lol,” accompanied by a video of her long jump competition.
Beth Dolling and Marcus Smith, England
Beth has 37,000 followers on social media Instagram @bethdolling
She has been dating Marcus since 2019
London-based fashion model Beth Dolling, 25, has been dating English rugby player Marcus Smith, 26, since 2019.
The brunette beauty has appeared in campaigns for online fashion giants such as PrettyLittleThing, Missy Empire, Rebellious and more.
She has 37,000 followers on Instagram and frequently shares photos of her model shoots, her lavish lifestyle and her life with Marcus.
Last month she posted a loved up snap of the couple with the caption: “5 years together with the loml! Love you with my whole heart.”
As well as modelling she is also budding singer, occasionally showing off her vocals to fans on TikTok.
Dina Celina and Blair Kinghorn, Scotland
DIna Celina, 32, is a registered nutritionistwww.instagram.com/dinacelinad
She is the fiancee of Blair KinghornInstagram
Nutritionist Dina Celina, 32, is originally from Norway and is the fiancee of Scottish ruby player Blair Kinghorn, 28.
The pair revealed their engagement in November last year after three years of dating.
The proposal took place during a romantic break at the posh Gleneagles Hotel and the date has been set for August 25.
Dina has a BSc Honours in Nutrition from Queen Margaret University with a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) accredition.
She maintains that gut health is the main driver of health and posts videos of the healthy, anti-inflammatory meals she makes for Blair when he is in recovery from injury.
The couple now live in France, where Blair plays for Toulouse.
Sophie De Patoul and Josh van der Flier, Ireland
Instagram/@sophie_depatoulSophie De Patoul is a digital marketing freelancer[/caption]
The Irish beauty is in a relationship with Josh van der FlierInstagram/@sophie_depatoul
Dublin born Sophie de Patoul tied the knot with her long term boyfriend Josh van der Flier, 32, at Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin in 2022.
The happy bride shared a picture with the caption: “Got to marry my best friend.”
The pair have been together since 2019 but Josh didn’t pop the question until 2021.
Back in her college days, Sophie attended Muckross Park College before attaining a BA in Business and Spanish at Technological University Dublin.
She also spent time studying at Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko in Spain where she brushed up on her Spanish.
Sophie, who is also Belgian, worked part time as a waitress and as a sales adviser at Brown Thomas. Now, she works as a digital marketing freelancer.
Nika van der Merwe and Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland
Nika van der Merwe has 21,000 followersInstagram/neeks_vdm
The gorgeous Scottish couple got married two years ago
Edinburgh-based content creator Nika van der Merwe, wed Duhan, 30, in 2023 at a stunning venue in South Africa.
As a content creator and “social media expert”, Nika frequently shares work updates and glimpses into her personal life to Instagram.
Nika is also the founder of social media agency, Sound Colour Social, and the women’s hiking club, She Wanders.
She also owns two adorable French bulldogs called Moosie and Ziggy.
In the past, fans have referred to her as the “queen of the wags”.
Chloe Rose and Luke Cowan Dickie, England
Chloe loves to post fun snaps to her InstagramInstagram/chlo_rosexx
InstagramChloe Rose is the wife of English hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, 31[/caption]
She has recently posted pics of her incredible body transformation after slimming downInstagram/chlo_rosexx
Chloe Rose, from Cornwall, is wife to English hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, 31, and regularly supports him at games.
The couple welcomed their son Arlo during the 2020 Six Nations, just weeks before the 2019 World Cup.
Sharing the news on social media, Luke wrote: “So this is my little man, Arlo Cowan-Dickie, and he is already my [world]. Thanks for the kind messages – him and mum are doing great.”
The couple had been dating for two years before Arlo was born.
Chloe has recently been on her own fitness journey and often shares snaps of her herself flaunting her incredible body transformation, looking honed and toned.
Mimi Fall and Maro Itoje, England
Mimi Fall and Maro Itoje met at a modelling shoot
They married just weeks ago
Maro Itoje popped the question to his now wife Mimi Fall during a holiday to Nigeria and Ghana in August 2024.
Mimi revealed the engagement via social media captioning a picture of her shiny ring “Mrs I to be.”
They tied the knot last month in a glamorous ceremony in London’s Mayfair, with Mimi posting: “We cried, laughed and danced – yes I had 5 outfits because life is for living.”
The pair, who are also models, allegedly met during a photo shoot.
Today, Mimi models for W MODEL MGMT and Boom Models Agency.
She is also a talented artist with her own dedicated page @mimifallart.
Mimi is also a lover of food and shares artsy snaps of her dishes via her page @comedinewithmi.
Katherine Egan and Dan Sheehan
Katherine Egan is Daniel Sheehan’s, 26, long-term girlfriend
The pair have been together since around 2017
Irish beauty Katherine Egan is Dan Sheehan’s, 26, long-term girlfriend.
The pair have shared adorable pics together over the years with one snap dating back to 2017. .
While the Dan has made his name in rugby, Katherine has sporting pedigree in her own right as a hockey player with UCD, where she also studies Medicine.
Ever supportive of one another, they attended the 2022 Leinster Rugby Awards Ball where Dan won LAYA Healthcare Men’s Young Player of the Year.
The pair also seem to love travelling together to a variety of exotic destinations such as Bali and Santorini.
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