The 2017 British and Irish Lions squad
For one last time, here’s who made the cut. Warren Gatland’s selection policy has proved predictably controversial, with many feeling that several in-form Scottish players have been left out in favour of ageing Welshmen who have been picked on reputation rather than Autumn international or Six Nations form. Shades of Clive Woodward in 2005 there, methinks and look at the drubbings that lot took from the All Blacks. No doubt some players will succumb to injury between now and June, so there will be inevitably be new additions to the squad as various unfortunate players are forced to pull out.
And now, the end is near ...
OK, folks - we’re going to wind down this blog now, but please feel free to continues discussing Warren Gatlland’s selections in our comments section. Thanks you all for your contributions and stay tuned for incoming analysis and comment from our rugby writers Rob Kitson, Paul Rees, Gerard Meagher and Andy Bull.
Matthew Hobbs writes ...
And in my opinion it’s difficult to disagree with much of what he says. “You can argue some marginal calls that have favoured Welsh players derive from national bias or nepotism, but as others have pointed out the so-called controversial picks like Leigh Halfpenny have been players short of serious competition elsewhere,” he says.
“Such debate is, in my view, missing the point. The squad can be exciting or as predictable as the coach makes it, and in selecting Farrell as a 10, it is the style of play that concerns me most. Farrell and Sexton in tandem could be an axis of glorious creativity, spinning webs even the All Blacks may struggle to master. Boshing it up with the middle with any combination of Te’o, Henshaw or Jonathan Davies will be anything but.
“In his immediate post-announcement interview, Gatland has already earmarked Te’o as a potential 12, rather than 13. Given Wales’ record v New Zealand employing similar stick-it-up-the-jumper tactics, a foreboding omen.”
Hoppolocos makes an interesting point ...
“I think the issue is that Gatland has picked a squad that will play one way and if that doesn’t work there will be no Plan B,” he or she says.
Simon writes ...
I will spare this particular simple Simon’s blushes by not publishing his surname, but his email is a belter. “What I know about rugby you could write on the back of a Serge Blanco fag packet, but 12 Welshmen and only 2 Scots seems a bit lopsided?” he writes. “And why no French or Italians?”
On the British Irish Lions? Who wants to tell him?
BT SPort obliterate over half of Ireland
Somebody in the BT Sport graphics department seems to have had a bit of a nightmare, although I should point out the minor error of obliterating most of Ireland has since been rectified. My own home town of Birr, Co. Offaly was originally wiped out of existence, along with the rest of the Republic of Ireland .... which was rather worrying.
A few geography lessons needed @btsportrugby 😆 pic.twitter.com/JNm5M4PoRs
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) April 19, 2017
An email from Peter Edwards ...
“It has been interesting and predictable reading the feedback and responses to the selections Gatland as chosen especially the size and players chosen from the Welsh sector,” he says. “For me I am both surprised and pleased, being Welsh and disappointed in the performances in the six nations of Wales I would hate to have seen only a small of Welsh players taken on this tour and totally ignored the stupid idea of taking Jamie Roberts who is well passed his best and he would be the first to accept that.
“For all those who disapprove ask yourself in a non-biased way why Gatland has selected these actual players and then compare their counterparts in other countries. Do they have the same pedigree, length of experience and international proven record? Yes their form may not be the best but also look at what they were asked to do in the six nations under Robert Howley, whose lack of judgement and inexperience was clearly shown against Scotland but proven against Ireland. Thus the latter was the main reason for selecting these particular Welsh players in that they knew what they had to do to win at all costs.”
I really like the squad chosen overall, some unlucky players but you can't take everyone. Don't understand what JD2 and Halfpenny have done to get into the team but oh well.
I see a lot of people are complaining about Kruis, the guy is the best line out caller and scrummager in the NH and has been unlucky with injuries. If he is fit, launchbury will not start in the england team as eddie jones has shown. I think it came down to lawes and launchbury and lawes has massively improved his ball carrying while, being considerably better at the line out and restarts than launchbury.
Also Steve Borthwick is forwards coach and i'm sure he knows these guys inside and out as he is the England forwards coach and the fact that Kruis who has been injured most of the year is ahead of Launchbury to me says where Steve Borthwick sees both of them
Launchbury is a fine player and could have gone ahead of Henderson, but for him to get into the Lions and the england first team, he needs to massively improve his line out and restart work as he is behind lawes, kruis and itoje in that area
That British and Irish Lions squad in full again ...
Just a reminder of who has been picked for Warren Gatland’s squad.
GavLeShark raises an interesting point ...
With several of the players named today involved in the Aviva Premiership playoffs and Pro12 latter stages, will those picked for the Lions go into self-preservation and injury-avoidance mode?
I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on how this announcement will affect the players who may be involved in the Aviva Premiership playoffs? Austin Healey wrote the other day that it is possible that once given the nod for the Lions some players may go into a self-preservation mode to avoid injury. Given the number of Saracens players now involved, I wonder is this has offered some marginal benefit to say the Chiefs. Conversely, will the non-selection play on the minds of some of the wasps players such as Haskell and Launchbury? I have a feeling they are far too professional.
With 1,333 comments posted to date ...
My gratitude goes out to each and every one of you who have posted, but James 221 will always have a special place in my heart for reading them all and condensing the general mood into this bite-sized comment.
Consensus of comments below so far:
Luckiest players to be on plane - Biggar, Davies & Halfpenny
Unluckiest player to miss plane - Launchbury
Sam Warburton on his appointment as captain
Just to put this video in context, the most noteworthy thing to ever happen me in a supermarket car-park involved me hitting myself in the face with my own car boot door, prompting my nose to start pouring blood. Due to my not having any tissues or hankies to hand, I ended up trying to staunch the flow and clean my face with an oily rag and driving home looking like an extra from the Walking Dead. Warburton 1-0 Glendenning.
Feel that burn ...
Readers Redxabi Brady and Bayviewdreamer are displeased with Warren Gatland’s selection. Very displeased.
Disgraceful selection. I guess I will be rooting for the AB's. They have more players with Scottish heritage on that team.
12 Welshmen and two Scots. Scotland beat Wales in the 6N and finished above them. They also beat Ireland. England were the best team alot of the time but not always , Ireland beat them and the French should have . Gatland and Co must really hate the Scots. I think both Hogg and Seymour should not bother going as they are unlikely to be chosen. Ridiculous choice of captain, should have been Best. I for one along with many others will not be watching the games All Blacks and midweek teams to beat the Lions. Gatland has no tactical nous
Some reaction from New Zealand
Gregor Paul, the New Zealand Herald on Sunday’s rugby writer says “big pats on the back will be coming for Warren Gatland after he unveiled a Lions squad that has equal parts conservatism, boldness, adventure and graft”. In a state of affairs that suggests he may not have accurately guaged the mood round Northern Hemisphere way, Paul goes on to say that Gatland “has balanced his nationalities in proportions that should prevent accusations of favouritism”.
“Has he picked a squad that is good enough to win the test series?” asks Gregor. “Does he have the players at his disposal to beat the All Blacks in two tests in their own backyard? That’s where it gets a little harder to be so enthusiastic about the Lions.”
Scrummaging won’t be a problem, he says. Their lineout is “a reliable bit of machinery” and “the tackled ball area should be an area where they can also compete”, he says. “Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton are an experienced halfback pairing who will run a tight and organised ship and Owen Farrell will barely miss a goal while he’s here.”
You can sense a very big but coming, can’t you?! And here it is ...
“It all looks so good for the Lions, except for one missing piece perhaps,” writes Gregor. “Their squad lacks creative, intuitive footballers with the skills and imagination to ignite their attacking game.”
He goes on to conclude that: “It’s a strong, serious-looking Lions squad that will match the All Blacks in all the table stake areas of set-piece, breakdown and defence. But without that touch of class and creativity, they might be going home with plenty to think about.”
What say ye to that, Guardian readers? You can read Gregor’s article in its entirety by clicking on this link, but don’t forget to return and have your say.
Reader Jarwen7 offers a considered opinion ...
Some interesting analysis from Jarwen7. Warren Gatland said that the centre and second row positions provided the biggest selection headaches and prompted the most lively discussion among him and his fellow selectors.
Happy the rumours proved false, very strong squad picked with a few marginal calls here and there that could have gone either way, however some questions to be had with out-of-form Welsh backs;
-Props look very good, though Cian Healy might go but Marler edges him
-No surprises with selection at Hooker. Thought Hartley should go for his set piece but probably wouldn't have started the tests anyway, nor would Fraser Brown.
-Would like to see the Itoje-Kruis partnership in the Tests, but I can see Gatland going for AWJ. Jonny Gray and Launchbury unlucky not to tour but 2nd Row was probably the most competitive position.
-Pleased for Moriarty, excellent against England, but Hamish Watson is unlucky not to be touring (though Haskell could sneak in, but he unlikely to have featured in the tests anyway).
-Billy V and Faletau the standout 8s, no other eligible 8s really pushed for selection.
-Murray and Webb the strongest Scrum Halves, agree with Youngs as 3rd choice also for his kicking game. Care not really needed when Webb is in there.
-Sexton and Farrell the two easy choices at 10. Don't think Biggar has shown enough form recently, would have chosen Russell ahead of him as 3rd choice, and possibly Ford though he's not been at his best either.
-Expected Zebo to be included but the Wingers are all very good, and whilst North hasn't been firing on all cylinders consistently recently he's world class on his day and warrants inclusion. Though I would liked to have seen Wade sneak in as a bolter.
-Think that Henshaw and Joseph will be starters for the Tests. Not sure what JD2 has shown recently to be included, Ringrose would have been my choice ahead of him at Outside Center. Would have chosen Huw Jones ahead of both but for injury.
-Hogg should be inked into the starting XV, way out in front at Fullback. Halfpenny has not been in the greatest form but there isn't really anyone else who put their hand up for inclusion in my opinion.
-Unsure if Daly will play on the Wing or at Outside Centre but I think he will feature at some point in the Tests, fully deserved.
Ultimately the squad is as it should be in the forwards with an Irish and English dominant Front Row, English dominant Second Row and a Welsh and Irish dominant Back Row. There's a real mix in the Backs including the excellent Hogg & Seymour - the biggest argument to be had is that some of the Welsh backs haven't shown enough form recently to justify selection, but by and large the squad is very well balanced and I'm far more optimistic now than I was hearing the selection rumours in the last few days.
One of the more polite responses to Brian Moore's comments ...
BohemianGirl thinks he’s missing the point and here’s why ...
Moore misses the point. He says we all need to get behind the Lyons squad and stop bi*ching that players from our own nations have not been picked.
But it's precisely because we ARE square behind the Lyons squad that we're unhappy. I am Irish and my second fav team is Wales. But it's a downer to know that the Lyons squad being sent to NZ comprises many of Gatland's favourite people and not the cream of the crop of actual players on these islands. Scotland is way ahead of Wales in world rankings as well as in player quality as displayed in the 6N. It's a joke that so many tired and jaded Welsh players will represent us alongside only two Scottish.
So you are wrong, Moore. It's because we ARE 100% behind the Lyons squad that we are unhappy. Btw, get well soon .... we are all rooting for you!! :)
Ben Te'o reacts ...
The son of a Samoan father and an English mother, the Worcester and England outside centre was a bit of a surprise selection and says he’s “a bit relieved” and “really proud to have the opportunity to play for the British and Irish Lions”. He says he will bring a bit of physicality and strong ball-carrying to the party and isn’t sure whether the fact that he was born in New Zealand and spent much of his life there will be any help to him when he goes on tour with the Lions. He has some previous with his Lions captain Sam Warburton, who might want to discuss this at their first training session. Hard but fair, as the saying goes. Very hard.
A Scotland fan writes ....
Stoveboy has a theory regarding the absence of all but two Scots from Warren Gatland’s squad.
Hello, I feel our capitulation st twickenham was telling. A pressure cooker environment with an in form team. Had it been close a few more scots would be on the plane. I have no idea why lauchbery isn't going but the other big omissions English wise are based on temperament or being seen as a potential liability in the heat of NZ rugby.
Thanks for all the extremely kind messages. Amazing honour to captain the @lionsofficial again. Squad looks very very strong! #AllForOne💪👊🏽
— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) April 19, 2017
Guardian reader Peter Kneale begs to differ
Peter reckons that ... well, see for yourself. A genuine grievance? An unlikely conspiracy theory? Or a little from Column A and a little from Column B? I think Peter makes some good points, which are undermined by his apparent certainty that Gatland picked his squad with one eye on what will happen once the tour ends and he goes back to his day job with Wales.
Glendinning misrepresents the reaction to the squad announcement by implying that supporters of all nations are having a moan about something or other. I know he has to listen and type and I only have to read, but it's obvious that the consensus is that Wales players have been systematically favoured in marginal calls and that this has disproportionately impacted on Scotland's representation in the squad.
This was fairly predictable - as Wales coach Gatland quite naturally has one eye on the post-tour world and has a vested interest in keeping his key players on-side. And it's only natural that he will feel more secure working with players that he knows and who know him and how he likes to play. But quite apart from being unfair on individual players, the broader consequence of this self-interest is to undermine support from Scotland fans, which is damaging to the whole Lions concept.
There is no case for quotas, but there is a case for favouring countries with lower overall representation in 50-50 calls (i.e. where there is no objectively strong case for one player over another). It would have been possible to have 5 or 6 representatives from Scotland without weakening the squad.
All a bit short-sighted and a missed opportunity in a rare situation where all four nations have good players.
The Pit Bull bites ...
Brian Moore has a message for people bellyaching about who has and hasn’t been included in the squad.
Lions - you aren't a true fan if there are terms on your support (.ie. pick my players)- all in it together or not: bitch when it's over.
— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) April 17, 2017
Congrats to all those selected for the British & Irish lions!
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) April 19, 2017
Some Lions tour betting
William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly was first out of the traps with some odds for the forthcoming Lions tour. His firm make New Zealand white-hot 1-4 favourites to win the series, with a 3-0 series win priced up at 4-5. The Lions are 3-1 to win the series with the most likely score if they do being 2-1 offered at 6/1.
“Gatland has named a strong squad despite a couple of notable absentees but despite this, we think that All Blacks will be far too strong and it would be a success to even win one Test,” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.
First test: New Zealand 1-3, British and Irish Lions 12-5; 20-1 draw
Gatland on only picking two Scots ...
He says he appreciates that some Scottish folk will be very annoyed with him, but says picking the squad was not about filling national quotas. He says that he and his fellow selectors went through the squad position by position and picked who they thought were the best players to fill each one regardless of nationality.
Gatland won't stop talking!
“We know we’re going to the toughest place in the world to play and to tour. Culturally as well, we’ll need to adapt, he says, going on to joke that there’ll be plenty of choir practice in the coming weeks. On Owen Farrell: “Don’t discount Dan Biggar,” he says, when asked if it will be a straight battle between Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell for the out-half position on the Test team. He confirms that Farrell could play elsewhere in the team.
More from Gatland ...
On Dylan Hartley’s omission: “I think it was a discussion that Dylan’s done a great job for England since he started captaining the team, but we felt like we couldn’t leave out Jamie George. Rory Best and Ken Owens had great Six Nations as well ... Dylan is very unlucky not to be in the squad, but somebody else would have been very unlucky if he had been included.”
Warren Gatland speaks ...
The Lions head coach says the midfield and the second rows were the toughest selections to make. He reveals that leaving Joe Launchbury out was a very difficult decision and says that taking Ben T’eo was a big call. “There was some lively discussions about the second rows, the hookers and the midfield,” he reveals. “Sam has got the honour of captaining the team on topur, but if somebody else is playing better than him we’ll have no problem selecting them ahead of him in the Tests,” he says of his captain.
So who's the most fed up?
Despite having 16 players in the squad, some England fans are ticked off because Joe Launchbury, George Ford, Dylan Hartley and others have not been picked. The Irish are fed up because Munster and Ireland flanker Donnacha Ryan hasn’t been picked. The Scots are unhappy because they’ve only got two players in the squad and the Welsh are unhappy because Gatland has defied expectations by naming some players in his squad who are English, Irish and Scottish.
Over 600 comments below the line so far ...
Wow! Warren Gatland definitely seems to have put the cat among the pigeons with his announcement. Melonforce makes an interesting point ...
Well, it's Gatland's call, and he better hope these guys like Halfpenny, North, Warburton, AWJ, Davies and Biggar come good for him, because if they don't he's going to get absolutely slaughtered (and so are they to be fair). There are better players than them right now who will be sitting at home, so he must think he can get something out of these guys that none of them have shown over the last year or so. It's a bold call to say the least.
How the squad compares ....
Australia 2013
Captain: Sam Warburton (Wales)
Coach: Warren Gatland (Wales coach, nationality New Zealand)
Original squad (refers to players initially selected - replacement players not included): England 10 players, Ireland 9, Scotland 3, Wales 15.
Test selection: England 20 appearances/9 starts, Ireland 14/11, Scotland 1/0, Wales 29/25.
Wales’ back-to-back Six Nations champions - Grand Slam winners in 2012 - provided 15 of the 37-man squad and more than half of the players in the starting line-ups under their established coach and captain. Full-back Leigh Halfpenny was the chief inspiration for a 2-1 series win and a record 41 points in the deciding third Test. Coach Gatland and captain Warburton remain in charge for 2017.
South Africa 2009
Captain: Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
Coach: Sir Ian McGeechan (Scotland)
Original squad: England 8, Ireland 14, Scotland 2, Wales 13.
Test selection: England 15 appearances/12 starts, Ireland 21/16, Scotland 1/0, Wales 24/17.
Ireland had won the Six Nations Grand Slam, matching the feat of Wales the previous year, and both nations were well represented as England slipped to third in the pecking order. South Africa won the series 2-1, with Morne Steyn’s match-winning penalty from his own half in injury time of the second Test ultimately proving decisive.
New Zealand 2005
Captain: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
Coach: Sir Clive Woodward (England)
Original squad: England 20*, Ireland 11, Scotland 3, Wales 10.
Test selection: England 28 appearances/19 starts, Ireland 16/11, Scotland 1/0, Wales 18/15.
Woodward kept faith with many of his 2003 World Cup winners, but suffered a 3-0 series whitewash. Wales’ Gareth Thomas took over the captaincy after O’Driscoll was controversially spear-tackled out of the tour two minutes into the first Test.
* Jonny Wilkinson was added to the squad as a 21st England selection, having initially been included on a list of players to join the squad subject to proving their fitness.
Australia 2001
Captain: Martin Johnson (England)
Coach: Graham Henry (Wales coach, nationality New Zealand)
Original squad: England 18, Ireland 6, Scotland 3, Wales 10.
Test selection: England 32 appearances/25 starts, Ireland 9/9, Scotland 4/3, Wales 12/8.
England’s back-to-back Grand Slam winners dominated the team-sheet, led by captain Johnson two years before he marshalled his country to global success. He was the first man to captain the Lions twice, an achievement now matched by Warburton. Prop Tom Smith was the last Scot to start a Lions Test, making the XV in all three games in a series won 2-1 by Australia.
South Africa 1997
Captain: Martin Johnson (England)
Coach: Sir Ian McGeechan (Scotland)
Original squad: England 18, Ireland 4, Scotland 5, Wales 8
Test selection: England 27 appearances/22 starts, Ireland 9/8, Scotland 8/8, Wales 8/7
The last time Scotland were not the nation least represented - they had five players to Ireland’s four and eight starts to Wales’ seven. The Lions won the series 2-1, largely thanks to the kicking of Neil Jenkins - a member of the 2013 and 2017 coaching staffs.
New Zealand 1993
Captain: Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
Coach: Sir Ian McGeechan (Scotland)
Original squad: England 16, Ireland 2, Scotland 7, Wales 5
Test selection: England 32 appearances/31 starts, Ireland 3/3, Scotland 6/6, Wales 5/5 Rory Underwood’s try helped the tourists win the second Test but they lost the series 2-1. Eleven players started all three matches, with Mike Teague in the second Test the only Lions replacement used.
Sam Warburton speaks again ...
“It’s a very surreal thing to experience,” he says of taking the call from Gatland. “It’s an amazing honour even though he’d asked me to do it before. I didn’t see myself as a contender for the captaincy, but now in hindsight it’s a real thrill.” He goes on to say that Gatland first inquired about his injured knee and then had a general chat before asking him to captain the side. Despite no longer captaining Wales, he is happy to take on the role of Lions captain. “It’s very difficult to lead a side when you feel you’re not hitting your straps,” he says of his decision to relinquish the Wales captaincy and focus on returning to form.
Some reaction from Wasps
It’s fair to say they’re not buzzing about their man’s omission ...
All gobsmacked here that Joe Launchbury wont be with @lionsofficial. 2 motm's in a 6 Nations winning campaign & player of the comp nominee
— Wasps (@WaspsRugby) April 19, 2017
So much for the Rumour Mill
At various points this morning we heard that Jonathan Joseph would not be included in Warren Gatland’s squad and that Jamie Roberts definitely would. Both leaks have turned out to be complete cobblers. Rumours regarding the omission of Dylan Hartley, Joe Launchbury, George Ford and Mike Brown turned out to be true.
Owen Farrell v Jonathan Sexton
It seems that Warren Gatland has said it will be a straight-up contest between Owen Farrell and Jonny Sexton for the out-half position in the Test team. Whether or not that means Farrell will not be considered as a centre remains unclear.
The British and Irish Lions backs
And here are the chaps who’ll be playing behind them.
The British and Irish Lions forwards
Here are the bulldozers Warren Gatland will be bringing to New Zealand.
The make-up of the squad ...
Warren Gatland has picked 16 Englishmen, 12 Welshmen, 11 Irishmen and just two Scots. On Sky Sports News, Will Greenwood is making the very salient point that anyone who has missed out on selection should button their lips and complain to nobody other than their mums. There will almost certainly be players named in this squad who won’t make the plane to New Zealand and replacements will be needed.
That British and Ireland Lions squad in full
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 T’eo (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 (Wales, capt).
No Dylan Hartley and no Jamie Roberts ...
As expected, Dylan Hartley has been omitted from the British and Irish Lions squad and becomes the third successive England captain to miss out on selection, along with Chris Robshaw and Steve Borthwick.
Head coach Warren Gatland has selected a 41-man squad for the 10 fixtures culminating in a three-Test series against New Zealand, including surprise call-ups for Ireland full-back Jared Payne, England wing Jack Nowell and Wales back row Ross Moriarty.
More from Warren Gatland
“The competition for places ... there’s going to be some players fighting for Test spots and there’s no stand-out number one contender for several positions,” he says. “We need to make sure we’ve got the depth and quality in the squad to face the challenges.”
More from Sam Warburton
“It’s an immensely strong squad,” he says. “It gives me a tremendous amount of confidence.”
Warren Gatland speaks
“We’ve picked the toughest competitors,” he says. As various members of Warren Gatland’s backroom team speak, there seems to be an air of genuine excitement. “They want to be on a winning tour,” says Andy Farrell.
Updated
Sam Warburton speaks
“It’s hard to put it into words really,” says the captain. He reveals he found out last Thursday in a supermarket car-park while waiting for his wife to buy some bread and milk. “There’ll be no doubt I’ll be 100% fit for the start of the tour,” he says when asked about any injury concerns he might have.
And the forwards.
Rory Best, Dan Cole, Taulupe Faletau, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Iain Henderson, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Jack McGrath, Ross Moriarty, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, Ken Owens, Kyle Sinckler, CJ Stander, Justin Tipuric, Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola, Sam Warburton (captain).
Here we go ...
Backs: Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Jonathan Davies, Owen Farrell, Leigh Halfpenny, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Jonathan Joseph, Conor Murray, George North, Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Jonathan Sexton, Tommy Seymour, Ben Te’o, Anthony Watson, Rhys Webb, Liam Williams, Ben Youngs
Updated
John Spencer takes to the lectern ...
The Lions Tour manager was a member of the only British and Irish Lions squad to beat New Zealand.
The Lions coaching team are introduced ...
Warren Gatland and his backroom team have been introduced and have taken their places on the stage. Gatland announces that “after some pretty lively debate” they settled on the final squad late yesterday afternoon. “As a coaching team we’re really excited by the quality and talent we’re bringing on tour.”
The announcement is just moments away ...
The gentlemen of the press have taken their seats and are waiting to hear who is in and who is out. It seems a certainty that Jamie Roberts will not be included, despite no end of speculation to the contrary.
Jared Payne is in ...
More rumour and speculation, but we’re hearing that New Zealand-born Ireland international back Jared Payne will be getting a free trip back to his old home. His fellow Irish internationals Keith Earls and Donnacha Ryan will not be joining him.
No Jamie Roberts ...
The word coming out of the Hilton London Synon Park is that Jamie Roberts will not - repeat not - be in the squad. As Hollywood screenwriter William Goldman famously said, nobody anywhere knows anything. We’ll find out soon enough.
An interesting snippet from the New Zealand Herald
They report that Paul Stridgeon, the Lions head of strength and conditioning, has said his players will need to be at least 10% fitter than they were in Australia in 2013. Stridgeon has taken over from Adam Beard as the fitness guru and will begin whipping is charges into shape at two training camps at the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales and Carton House in Ireland.
And they're off ...
Lilaitomniweotawicha sets the early tone for what could be a very entertaining and amusing day below the line.
apparently, Jamie Roberts has also been pencilled in for the 2021 and 2025 tours.
Rory Best to make the squad?
Rumours on Planet Rugby suggest the Ireland skipper Rory Best will be included in Warren Gatland’s squad at the expense of Dylan Hartley. Best, Ken Owens and Jamie George will make up the trio of hookers travelling to New Zealand. While the England captain is likely to be one of several high profile England omissions, Ben Te’o, Elliot Daly, Joe Marler and Maro Itoje are all expected to become first-time Lions. Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip and Scotland lock Jonny Gray are also expected to miss out, while 91 times-capped Wales centre Jamie Roberts, who toured with the Lions in 2009 and 2013, could be a surprise inclusion despite starting just two Tests for Wales this season and spending the entire Six Nations campaign opn the bench. New Zealand-born Te’o, who has made one England start in eight appearances, is believed to have earned his passage to New Zealand with an eye-catching performance for Wrocester against Bath in the Aviva Premiership four days ago.
Updated
One hour to go....#AllForOne
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) April 19, 2017
Live blog: https://t.co/MvLyanu35c
Live stream: https://t.co/I9cTGbUs2c pic.twitter.com/KeXiFJl4HR
Gatland's Lions tour previous ...
Warren Gatland was appointed head coach in September last year and the 52-year-old immediately went on sabbatical from his position as Wales head coach to focus on this, his second stint in charge of the Lions. Four years ago, he masterminded a 2-1 series win over Australia, an experience he described as “a real career highlight”. This tour is likely to be tougher, with the Lions having won just one series in 11 previous trips to New Zealand. In 1971, Welshman Carwyn James was in charge when his compatriot John Dawes captained the Lions to a 2-1 series win over the All Blacks.
“Coaching the Lions is a great privilege,” said Gatland at his unveiling. “The 2013 tour was a real career highlight for me and I’m honoured to be offered the role again. For the All Blacks a Lions series is the ultimate test, but I’m 100% confident that we can go and win in New Zealand. The chance to work with the best players from the four Home Nations is a coach’s dream and we have some outstanding talent to select from.”
Today we will finally get to see which of these outstanding talents have caught Gatland’s eye in the intervening eight months.
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How the afternoon's events will unfold
At midday (BST), tour manager John Spencer will reveal the names of the players who have been selected and confirm the worst kept secret in rugby - that Sam Warburton will be captain. After the announcement, Warren Gatland and his coaching party will field questions from the media - including the Guardian’s crack team of rugby union reporters Robert Kitson, Paul Rees and Gerard Meagher - and our writers will get tip-tapping on their laptops to bring you their take on the squad: omissions, inclusions and any other news lines that arise. Gatland’s squad selection is bound to prompt no end of debate and quite a bit of parochial bellyaching, so we’d love to hear your thoughts and musings in the comments section below.
As an aside, Guardian rugby enthusiasts will be painfully aware that the late, great Dan Lucas should really be helming this rolling blog and on a day that marks the announcement of the Lions squad and the 30th anniversary of his favourite TV show, The Simpsons, please feel free to take a moment to remember a top bloke who left us far too soon. See you on the other side, comrade.
What can we expect from Warren Gatland?
As Robert Kitson has written in his selection preview, Wales Centre Jamie Roberts is likely to be a surprise inclusion at the expense of England’s Jonathan Joseph. Rumoursa from the England camp suggest Joseph is one of several high profile England players likely to miss out, along with George Ford, Mike Brown, Joe Launchbury, James Haskell and Chris Robshaw. England captain and hooker Dylan Hartley may also be a conspicuous absentee from the squad touring his native New Zealand, with Ireland’s Rory Best and Wales’s Ken Owens the favourite to squeeze him out of contention. If these rumours prove correct, it would appear that Gatland sees power and strength, rather than subtlety, as the key to beating New Zealand this summer.
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British and Irish Lions tour itinerary
The British and Irish Lions will play 10 matches in all on their first tour of New Zealand since 2005, including three Tests against the All Blacks.
- Sat 3 June: Provincial Barbarians - Toll Stadium, Whangerei
- Wed 7 June: Blues - Eden Park, Auckland
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Sat 10 June: Crusaders - AMI Stadium, Christchurch
- Tues 13 June: Highlanders - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
- Sat 17 June: Maori All Blacks - Rotorua International Stadium
- Tues 20 June: Chiefs FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
- Sat 24 June: All Blacks - Eden Park, Auckland
- Tues 27 June: Hurricanes - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
- Sat 1 July: All Blacks - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
- Sat 8 July: All Blacks - Eden Park, Auckland
The long wait is very nearly over ...
After months of debate and speculation, Warren Gatland will name his squad for the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand at noon (BST) today, identifying the 40 or so players who will be tasked with securing a series win over the All Blacks for the first time in four attempts since 1971. Gatland will make his announcement at the Hilton London Synon Park, where the early evidence suggests that Cardiff Blues and Wales flanker Sam Warburton will be named as captain for a second successive Lions Tour.
What a lovely photo of a great Cardiff player. A very, very special player. Congratulations, Sam pic.twitter.com/faG5EtlM0C
— PhilBB (@rugbyPhilBB) April 19, 2017
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Sadly the squad looks pretty much as expected. I think the issue is that Gatland has picked a squad that will play one way and if that doesn't work there will be no plan B. I would have liked to see more players in there who have the flair and the ability to do the unexpected, like Russell. Yes, he and some others would have been a risk, but playing it safe with crashball will at best end in a 2 - 1 defeat, possibly a 3 - 0 loss.