Here’s our daily round-up of the hot Oz and international rugby news. And it’s all about the Lions this morning, Warren Gatland having announced his 37-man touring squad. He’s picked 15 Welshmen, including Sam Warburton as captain, 10 Poms, nine Irish and three Scots.
The Players
Props: Dan Cole (England), Cian Healy (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England)
Hookers: Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England)
Locks: Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England)
Flankers: Tom Croft (England), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sam Warburton (Wales, captain)
Number 8s: Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Halfbacks: Conor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England)
Five-eighths: Owen Farrell (England), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
Centres: Jonathan Davies (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilagi (England)
Wingers: Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland), George North (Wales)
Fullbacks: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Robert Kearney (Ireland)
Jonny Wilkinson? He ruled himself out. England and Scotland captains Chris Robshaw and Kelly Brown were left out. The exclusion of Ireland’s ace hooker Rory Best is a bit controversial.
Coaching & Management
Head Coach: Warren Gatland
Assistant Coaches: Rob Howley, Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell, Neil Jenkins
Head of Strength & Conditioning: Adam Beard
Fitness Coach: Paul Stridgeon
Head of Performance Analysis: Rhys Long
Video Analysts: Rhodri Bown, Michael Hughes
Tour Chief Executive: John Feehan
Tour Manager: Andy Irvine
Director of Sales & Marketing: Charlie McEwan
A further 15 bods are coming along in the Medical, Operations & Security and Media & Comms teams.
Tour Match Schedule
Saturday, 1 June: Barbarians, Hong Kong
Wednesday, 5 June: Force, Perth
Saturday, 8 June: Reds, Brisbane
Tuesday, 11 June: Combined New South Wales-Queensland, Newcastle
Saturday, 15 June: Waratahs, Sydney
Tuesday, 18 June: Brumbies, Canberra
Saturday, 22 June: Australia, Brisbane
Tuesday, 25 June: Rebels, Melbourne
Saturday, 29 June: Australia, Melbourne
Saturday 6 July: Australia, Sydney
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