Warren Gatland has confirmed Alun Wyn Jones will captain his 37-man squad for this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, with England’s Sam Simmonds and Ireland’s Bundee Aki among the shock selections.
Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton, a key player on the Lions’ previous 2013 and 2017 tours, was perhaps the most notable omission, while Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola and Jonathan Davies also failed to make the cut.
Despite finishing fifth in this year’s Six Nations, England have the largest representation from the four home nations with 11 players picked. Meanwhile, 10 Welshman and eight apiece from both Scotland and Ireland make up the remainder of the touring party.
Veteran Wales and Ospreys lock, 35, who turns 36 in September, will be the oldest skipper of a Lions tour since the sport turned professional back in 1995.
Warren Gatland's 37-man touring party
FORWARDS
Loosehead prop: Mako Vunipola (Saracens and England), Wyn Jones (Scarlets and Wales), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh and Scotland).
Hooker: Ken Owens (Scarlets and Wales), Jamie George (Saracens and England), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs and England).
Tighthead prop: Tadhg Furlong (Leinster and Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster and Ireland), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors and Scotland).
Second Row: Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys and Wales, Captain), Maro Itoje (Saracens and England), Iain Henderson (Ulster and Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Munster and Ireland), Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs and Scotland), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints and England).
Back-Row: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks and England), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys and Wales), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh and Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Bath and Wales), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs and England), Jack Conan (Leinster and Ireland).
BACKS
Scrum-half: Conor Murray (Munster and Ireland), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors and Scotland), Gareth Davies (Scarlets and Wales).
Fly-half: Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints and Wales), Owen Farrell (Saracens and England), Finn Russell (Racing 92 and Scotland).
Centre: Robbie Henshaw (Leinster and Ireland), Chris Harris (Gloucester and Scotland), Bundee Aki (Connacht and Ireland).
Back-three: Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs and Scotland), Liam Williams (Scarlets and Wales), Anthony Watson (Bath and England), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester and Wales), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh and Scotland), Elliot Daly (Saracens and England), Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues and Wales).
‘I feel very proud and privileged,’ Wyn Jones said when asked for his reaction to being named captain.
‘It’s obviously a huge privilege to be selected in the squad and initially that’s what you want to be hearing as a player.
‘To have the armband as well is a privilege, especially when considering the players that have gone before.’
‘I’ve got a huge amount of pride to add this to the CV but there’s lots of work and games ahead.’
Asked who he told when Gatland first informed him of the news, he added: ‘The nearest and dearest, I kept it pretty tight with respects to Gats for obvious reasons but these things get out somehow.
‘It’s obviously the hot topic and has been for a long time but it’s nice to be out now.’
The Lions face Japan in their opening warm-up game at Murrayfield on June 26 and then set off for South Africa for the tour which begins on July 3.
The first of the Lions’ three-match Test series against the Springboks is scheduled to take place at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on July 24.
Rassie Erasmus’ world champions have been unable to play a single match since thumping England to clinch the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019, with their pre-Lions schedule in tatters thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
British and Irish Lions' fixtures for the tour
June 26: Japan (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
July 3: DHL Stormers (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)
July 7: South Africa ‘Invitational’ (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth)
July 10: Cell C Sharks (Johsson Kings Park, Durban)
July 14: South Africa ‘A’ (Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela)
July 17: Vodacom Bulls (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
July 24: Springboks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
July 31: Springboks (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)
August 7: Springboks (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
It remains to be seen whether or not spectators will be allowed into stadiums for the tour, with strict quarantine rules in place and flights between the United Kingdom and South Africa currently suspended.
The Springboks came out on top with a thrilling 2-1 series win in the Lions’ last tour of South Africa in 2009.
Gatland took over the reins from Ian McGeechan in 2013 and led the tourists to a 2-1 victory over Australia.
The Lions’ most recent tour of New Zealand four years ago – also led by Gatland – ended in a tie after a nail-biting 15-15 draw in the third and final Test.
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