Murray, O’Mahony & Stander Secure Lions Selection

The British & Irish Lions Tour Manager John Spencer this afternoon confirmed a 41 man squad for this summer's Tour to New Zealand with Munster’s Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander all included. A member of the successful side that toured Australia in 2013, Conor Murray is named on a Lions squad for the second time with CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony set to become first time tourists. The Munster contingent are 3 of a total 11 Irish players New Zealand bound this summer, alongside Ulster’s Rory Best, Jared Payne and Iain Henderson, and Leinster’s Jack McGrath, Tadgh Furlong, Sean O’Brien, Jonathan Sexton and Robbie Henshaw. Sam Warburton of Cardiff Blues and Wales will captain the Lions for a second consecutive Tour, an honour only ever achieved once before by Martin Johnson in 1997 and 2001. The squad consists of 22 forwards and 19 backs, with Maro Itoje of England and Saracens the youngest player at the age of 22. 2017 British and Irish Lions Squad 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