Sam Warburton has been named as Wales’ first captain of the British & Irish Lions since 1977 as one of 15 representatives from the RBS 6 Nations champions.
Warburton, 24, will be Wales’ youngest ever touring skipper as part of the biggest Red Dragons contingent for 36 years for the trip to Australia.
Joining Warburton in the 37-man squad are 13 of the other 14 players who started Wales’ 30-3 triumph in their RBS 6 Nations finale against England in Cardiff.
The other is back row Dan Lydiate, who missed the 2012 RBS 6 Nations through injury but who was named Player of the Championship for his performances in leading Wales to a third Grand Slam in eight years in 2011.
“I’m always the ultimate optimist. I go out there with intention to try and win every match,” said Warburton.
“That’s never been done before – so that’s the challenge. The players will be desperate to get out there and have a successful tour. No one has had a Test series win who is in the squad at the moment.”
Head coach Warren Gatland, who led Wales to the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam, said of Warburton: “For the last two or three years, he has been the most successful captain in the northern hemisphere,” added Gatland.
“It’s a fantastically strong squad but if I think about naming the team tomorrow, Sam would be one of the players in there. He leads from the front.”
Wales players selected for British & Irish Lions:
Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Mike Phillips (Bayonne) Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues)
