Finn Russell makes British and Irish Lions squad along with seven other Scots in incredible haul

A mammoth haul of eight Scottish players will be part of Warren Gatland's 2021 British and Irish Lions squad.

It's the highest number of Scots picked in an initial tour selection since 1989 and a Six Nations campaign that saw Gregor Townsend's men defeat England and France away from Murrayfield has led to a sizeable tartan contingent to take on the Springboks.

The meeting between Gatland and his support staff – including Townsend – lasted four hours with the squad size bumped up to 37 from 36.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg was a shoo-in for selection and the full-back has been picked for his third tour, though as expected he won't skipper the Lions with Wales' Alun Wyn Jones preferred.

Hogg was a bright-eyed youngster in 2013 before having to head home early four years ago with a facial injury - this year is his time to shine on the big stage.

But he was really the only certainty out of the Scots and so it will delight fans that a sizeable group of our players are heading to the southern hemisphere this summer.

Finn Russell faced strong competition from Dan Biggar, Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell to be included but he's made it with Sexton missing out.

The player of the Six Nations Hamish Watson is in, too, with Ali Price, Chris Harris, Rory Sutherland, Zander Fagerson and Duhan van der Merwe also included in an incredible achievement for Townsend's men.

Scotland has not had more than three players in the squad since Townsend, Doddie Weir, Tom Smith, Alan Tait and Rob Wainwright went to South Africa in 1997. The country had nine representatives in the 1989 squad.

Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe powers through (SNS)

Full Lions squad

(Scottish players in bold)

Backs (16):

Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Gareth Davies, Owen Farrell, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray, Ali Price, Louis Rees-Zammit, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Anthony Watson, Liam Williams

Forwards (21):

Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Zander Fagerson, Taulupe Faletau, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie Georg, Iain Henderson, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Wyn Jones, Courtney Lawes, Ken Owens, Andrew Porter, Sam Simmonds, Rory Sutherland, Justin Tipuri, Mako Vunipola, Hamish Watson