Gatland announces Lions squad for tour of New Zealand
Sam Warburton will captain the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand but there is no place for England skipper Dylan Hartley in Warren Gatland’s 41-man squad.
Hartley misses out along with Wasps duo Joe Launchbury and James Haskell but Warren Gatland has selected 16 Englishmen, including hooker Jamie George and centres Jonathan Joseph and Ben Te’o.
Warburton retains the captaincy after leading the Lions to a series win in Australia in 2013 and he is one of 12 Wales players in the squad.
Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty is rewarded for his fine form during the Six Nations, with fellow back-rowers Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric also included, while Ken Owens is at hooker and Alun Wyn Jones at lock.
Jared Payne is the surprise name among the 11 Ireland players, the New Zealand-born back returning from a kidney injury in the Six Nations win over England. He is joined by fellow Ulster teammates Rory Best and Iain Henderson.
Leinster’s Jonathan Sexton, Robbie Henshaw, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong and Sean O’Brien have been selected.
CJ Stander, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony have been selected although there is no place for Munster team-mates Keith Earls, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo.
Other notable Irish absentees include: Garry Ringrose, Cian Healy and Jamie Heaslip
Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour are the only Scottish players selected as brothers Richie and Jonny Gray miss out.
2017 British and Irish Lions squad
Props: Dan Cole, Tadhg Furlong, Joe Marler, Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola.
Hookers: Rory Best, Jamie George, Ken Owens.
Locks: Iain Henderson, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes.
Back rows: Taulupe Faletau, Ross Moriarty, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, Justin Tipuric, Billy Vunipola, Sam Warburton (c).
Scrum-halves: Conor Murray, Rhys Webb, Ben Youngs.
Fly-halves: Dan Biggar, Owen Farrell, Jonathan Sexton.
Centres: Jonathan Davies, Robbie Henshaw, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o.
Back three: Elliot Daly, Leigh Halfpenny, Stuart Hogg, George North, Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Tommy Seymour, Anthony Watson, Liam Williams.
