Springbok prop Thomas du Toit has weighed in with a ringing endorsement of an England prop amid mounting speculation on the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad.

Du Toit said it would be “very weird” if fellow Bath prop Will Stuart didn’t wear the No 3 jersey for the British & Lions in Australia. Stuart had an outstanding Six Nations campaign for an England team that won four of their five matches to finish one log point behind champions France.

The 28-year-old has started at tighthead prop in England’s last 11 Tests and earned a 50th cap in the 68-14 thrashing of Wales in Cardiff.

Du Toit, who was part of the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup-winning squad after being called up as an injury replacement and has 23 Test caps, backed Stuart to make a big impact Down Under in July and August.

“I’m biased, but if he doesn’t start for the Lions, that’ll be very weird for me,” he said. “I think he’s brilliant.

“He’s an all-rounder. He’s a hard worker, a good scrummager. He’s definitely one of the best props, tighthead specifically, in the world. It’s not just a once-off, he’s showing that week in and week out.”

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Bath coach Johann van Graan said Stuart’s success was due to “incredible hard work” over the past two-and-a-half seasons.

“Stuey has worked really hard on his body to be available, and then he’s worked so hard on the pitch. He understands his game, understands his strengths and his weaknesses.

“Not a lot of players play 50 Test matches for their country. He started every single game in the autumn, he started every single game in the Six Nations. That is incredible, to be available for those games.”

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