Warren Gatland today unveiled the 41-man squad for the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand.
Sam Warburton, who started all five matches for Wales during this year’s RBS 6 Nations, will lead the Lions for a second consecutive Tour – an honour only ever achieved once before by Martin Johnson in 1997 and 2001.
Warburton will be supported by a number of men who have previously toured with two players – Wales teammates Alun Wyn-Jones and Leigh Halfpenny – on their third and 14 on their second Tour.
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The squad consists of 16 players from RBS 6 Nations champions England, with Maro Itoje the youngest in the ranks at the age of 22, while 12 Irish players, 11 from Wales, and two Scots are also selected.
Gatland, who spoke to Warburton on Thursday afternoon last week, explained: “Sam is a great player, an outstanding leader and a winning Lions captain.
“We believe that Sam’s experience and leadership qualities make him an obvious choice as captain. He has earned the respect of his peers and coaches through his resilience, tenacity and hard work.” On the eve of the announcement Warburton attended a private dinner with all the living Lions captains in the Hilton Syon Park.
He said: “Being in the same room as so many Lions legends was an amazing experience. I feel humbled and extremely proud to be given the opportunity to captain the Lions for a second Tour and look forward to playing the world champions on their own turf with the best players of the UK and Ireland at my side.”
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD 2017
Backs: Dan Biggar – Wales Elliot Daly – England Jonathan Davies – Wales Owen Farrell – England Leigh Halfpenny – Wales Robbie Henshaw – Ireland Stuart Hogg – Scotland Jonathan Joseph – England Conor Murray – Ireland George North – Wales Jack Nowell – England Jared Payne – Ireland Jonathan Sexton – Ireland Tommy Seymour – Scotland Ben Te’o – England Anthony Watson – England Rhys Webb – Wales Liam Williams – Wales Ben Youngs – England
Forwards: Rory Best – Ireland Dan Cole – England Taulupe Faletau – Wales Tadhg Furlong – Ireland Jamie George – England Iain Henderson – Ireland Maro Itoje – England Alun Wyn Jones – Wales George Kruis – England Courtney Lawes – England Joe Marler – England Jack McGrath – Ireland Ross Moriarty – Wales Sean O’Brien – Ireland Peter O’Mahony – Ireland Ken Owens – Wales Kyle Sinckler – England CJ Stander – Ireland Justin Tipuric – Wales Mako Vunipola – England Billy Vunipola – England Sam Warburton (Captain) – Wales
