Warren Gatland has unveiled the 41 man squad
for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
Sam
Warburton of Cardiff Blues and Wales 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 other former Lions with 2 players on their third and 14
on their second tour.
The squad consists of 22 forwards and
19 backs, with Maro Itoje the youngest player at the age of 22.
Gatland said, "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, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, 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.
Backs Dan
Biggar Ospreys, Wales Elliot Daly Wasps, England
Jonathan Davies Scarlets, Wales, Lions #778 Owen Farrell
Saracens, England, Lions #780 Leigh Halfpenny Toulon, Wales,
Lions #775 Robbie Henshaw Leinster Rugby, Ireland Stuart
Hogg Glasgow Warriors, Scotland, Lions #783 Jonathan Joseph
Bath Rugby, England Conor Murray Munster Rugby, Ireland,
Lions #790 George North Northampton Saints, Wales, Lions #792
Jack Nowell Exeter Chiefs, England Jared Payne Ulster
Rugby, Ireland Jonathan Sexton Leinster Rugby, Ireland, Lions
#791 Tommy Seymour Glasgow Warriors, Scotland Ben Te'o
Worcester Warriors, England Anthony Watson Bath Rugby,
England Rhys Webb Ospreys, Wales Liam Williams Scarlets,
Wales Ben Youngs Leicester Tigers, England, Lions #799
Forwards Rory
Best Ulster Rugby, Ireland, Lions #793 Dan Cole Leicester Tigers, England, Lions #794
Taulupe Faletau Bath Rugby, Wales, Lions #779 Tadhg Furlong
Leinster Rugby, Ireland Jamie George Saracens, England
Iain Henderson Ulster Rugby, Ireland Maro Itoje Saracens,
England Alun Wyn Jones Ospreys, Wales, Lions #761 George
Kruis Saracens, England Courtney Lawes Northampton Saints,
England Joe Marler Harlequins, England Jack McGrath
Leinster Rugby, Ireland Ross Moriarty - Gloucester Rugby, Wales
Sean O'Brien Leinster Rugby, Ireland, Lions #796 Peter
O'Mahony Munster Rugby, Ireland Ken Owens Scarlets, Wales
Kyle Sinckler Harlequins, England CJ Stander Munster Rugby,
Ireland Justin Tipuric Ospreys, Wales, Lions #786 Mako
Vunipola Saracens, England, Lions #787 Billy Vunipola
Saracens, England Sam Warburton (Captain) Cardiff Blues,
Wales, Lions #800
Rugby pictures:
Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong
Kong Sevens,
Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens,
Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens,
Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong
Kong Sevens,
Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015,
Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong
Kong,
Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015,
Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong,
Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014,
Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013,
Pictures
of Chartis Cup 2012 and
Pictures of
Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.
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