Lions squad announcement LIVE: Jonny May and Kyle Sinckler miss out as Warren Gatland reveals selection
Follow all the latest updates after Warren Gatland revealed his 37-man squad for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa this summer
Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers
Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Follow all the latest news live as the British and Irish Lions’ 37-man squad is announced today. Head coach Warren Gatland has selected 21 forwards and 16 backs and the players were not been told beforehand, finding out along with the rest of the world.
There are plenty of big talking points, like the captaincy, which has been handed to Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones after leading his country to the Six Nations title in the spring. Even then though, Jones may not be guaranteed a starting berth in what is naturally a highly competitive squad pooling the resources of the four nations.
Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has been left out of coach Gatland’s 37-man squad, which tours South Africa from 3 July until 7 August. Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Finn Russell will be in contention for the fly-half positions. Follow all the latest reaction from the Lions’ squad announcement below.
Read more:
Elliot Daly at 13?
Very interesting to see that on the official squad sheet, Elliot Daly is listed as a centre, rather than in the back three, where he was a started four years ago and is more regularly sighted for England. His long-range boot will be handy at altitude, you’d think, and he certainly provides a different option at 13 if desired.
Having said that, if you’d said this morning that none of Manu Tuilagi, Garry Ringrose, Henry Slade AND Jonathan Davies would make the 37-man squad, most would have been very, very surprised.
Kicking Coach Neil Jenkins on Johnny Sexton
“Obviously very tough on Johnny Sexton. He was exceptional from the floor in the Six Nations. Someone was going to miss out. Finn Russell missed out last time, and this time unfortunately it is Johnny.
“There is a little bit of concern about the concussions. He is a fantastic player, but it is very difficult with where we are going with the physicality they are going to bring.”
More from Alun Wyn Jones on Lions tour
“It’s a little bit disappointing that families and supporters won’t be able to go out,” says Alun Wyn Jones, before revealing that his kids are a little confused by exactly what he does for a living. Playing for Manchester United, they reckon - “right colour, wrong ball”, is Jones’ remark.
It will be a peculiar Lions tour, of course, but you get the sense that the vastly experienced second row is just about the right man to lead the playing group. He’s returning to South Africa for a second time as a Lion, and joins compatriot Dai Young as players to have made the squad in three different decades.
British and Irish Lions Squad
More from Jones in a little bit, but this is a lovely little video put together on the squad by the Lions, with pictures of the 37 playing rugby when they were a little less hirstute and gnarled.
Alun Wyn Jones on the squad
“It is probably one of the most difficult things to do for a coach, particularly on the back of one of the most competitive Six Nations for a long time. There have been a lot of people that have put their hands up. Louis Rees-Zammit is involved as one of the younger guys, so it is exciting.
“There are big omissions. It is a long time before the plane takes off and the squad tends to change with the risk of injury always there.”
Alun Wyn Jones
“I missed the call because I was doing something out the back of the house. It was a very succinct voicemail. I knew what it was about, so I called him back.
“I wasn’t playiing hard to get, and it wasn’t apprehension, but there was a bit of a pause. To hear those words and that question, it is a very big thing in the rugby world. It wasn’t hard to accept.”
Alun Wyn Jones faces the press...
First in front of the media this afternoon is Alun Wyn Jones, this time clearly real and not animated as he takes a seat in front of the sponsors’ hoarding on Zoom...
Eight Scottish players in the Lions’ 37
Warren Gatland had said that after their performances in the Six Nations, the Scottish representation on tour was likely to be increased significantly, but eight members of the 37-man squad feels like one or two higher than one might have anticipated. Still, there is little to quibble with any of the eight inclusions, with Ali Price getting the nod as the third scrum-half, both starting props earning calls and Duhan van der Merwe’s muscle required as he returns to the country of his birth a Lion.
Alun Wyn Jones captains Lions Squad to tour South Africa
Alun Wyn Jones named captain as Warren Gatland reveals Lions squad
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton misses out at fly-half while England’s Kyle Sinckler is a surprise omission at tighthead prop
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies