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Ireland’s Best honoured by Lions call-up

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Rory Best admits he is honoured to be selected as part of the British & Irish Lions squad, having initially been left out of the 37-man touring party.

Rory Best admits he is honoured to be selected as part of the British & Irish Lions squad, having initially been left out of the 37-man touring party.

Hooker Best, who started all five of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations fixtures, was added to the squad yesterday just 24 hours after Ulster lost the PRO12 final to Leinster.

“It was hard when I didn’t make the initial squad because it is everyone’s ambition to play for the Lions, but to be selected now is a massive honour,” said Best.

“To be finally selected makes playing professional rugby worthwhile and makes up for the feeling I had a few weeks ago when I thought the chance had gone.”

Meanwhile, Munster back row Peter O’Mahony has been made captain for Ireland’s summer tour of North America in Best’s absence.

The 23-year-old O’Mahony has impressed for Rob Penney’s side this season and during the autumn internationals and the RBS 6 Nations, he made himself a mainstay of the Ireland back row.

He will be Ireland’s youngest captain since Brian O’Driscoll led the men in green on their tour of Australia in 2002.