Murray, Stander & O’Mahony selected for Lions

Warren Gatland 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.

Like with previous tours, injuries play a role and should some of the squad pick up injuries on tour, several Munster players will no doubt be keeping their phones close by.

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