Gerald Davies announces the British & Irish Lions squad
- 00:02:44
- ITN
Gerald Davies announces the British & Irish Lions squad
Three Six Nations captains, Ryan Jones, Steve Borthwick and Mike Blair, have failed to make the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa. Lions manager Gerald Davies ended the waiting game by announcing a 37-man party for the ten-match trip, that includes three Tests against the world champion Springboks. Other absentees include Jonny Wilkinson, Danny Cipriani, Gavin Henson and James Hook, plus the shock omission of England flanker Tom Croft. But there were surprise call-ups for the likes of Munster pair Keith Earls and Alan Quinlan in a squad that will be captained by their Munster colleague, Ireland lock Paul O'Connell. Ireland will provide 14 players, Wales 13, England eight and Scotland just two, with prop Euan Murray and lock Nathan Hines. Among the other players who have emerged into potential stardom are Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny, England flyer Ugo Monye and Wales number eight Andy Powell. McGeechan said: "To get where we are and the announcement of the 37 players who will travel to South Africa has taken a lot of thought and work. "Over the last six months the Lions coaching staff has attended countless matches, analysed endless games and taken the counsel of national and domestic coaches." He added: "Naturally there were some tough decisions and there will be disappointed players, but I am confident that this is a very strong and capable squad. "Its composition reflects the form shown in the Six Nations and domestic rugby and has a balanced blend of experience and youth." British and Irish Lions squad for the 2009 tour of South Africa: Full-back: Lee Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland) Wing: Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland) Centre: Tom Shanklin (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England) Fly-half: Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales) Scrum-half: Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomas O'Leary (Ireland) Number eight: Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales) Flanker: David Wallace (Ireland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales) Lock: Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland, capt), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland) Prop: Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Andrew Sheridan (England), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland) Hooker: Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales)
ITN | April 21, 2009
