EUAN BECOMES SEVENTH LION FROM ANNIESLAND

Euan Murray's selection for the Lions Tour to South Africa means he follows in the foot steps of Louis Greig-Herbert Waddell-Wilson Shaw--Laurie Duff and John Beattie--a truly great achievement--not forgetting of course Peter Wright and former backs coach Rob Ackerman

Ireland's Paul O'Connell has been confirmed as British and Irish Lions captain for the three-Test summer tour to South Africa.

The second row was one of 14 Ireland players included in head coach Ian McGeechan's 37-man squad on Tuesday.

England second row Simon Shaw, 36, was also among the names, but there were no places for Wales captain Ryan Jones or team-mates Gavin Henson and James Hook.

England captain Steve Borthwick and Scotland's Mike Blair were omitted.

The omission means only Brian O'Driscoll, who led Ireland to only their second Six Nations Grand Slam, is the only captain from the four home nations to make McGeechan's squad.

Leicester and England loose forward Tom Croft, widely tipped to be included, misses out, but there are surprise call-ups for Munster and Ireland pair Keith Earls and Alan Quinlan.

The 14-strong Irish contingent are joined by 13 Welsh players, eight from England and two from Scotland, prop Euan Murray and lock Nathan Hines.

The Lions depart on 24 May and play Test matches in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

More to follow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa (age-club-country):

Full-back

Lee Byrne (28) Ospreys and Wales
Rob Kearney (23) Leinster and Ireland

Wing

Shane Williams (32) Ospreys and Wales
Leigh Halfpenny (20) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Ugo Monye (26) Harlequins and England
Luke Fitzgerald (21) Leinster and Ireland
Tommy Bowe (25) Ospreys and Ireland

Centres

Tom Shanklin (29) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Jamie Roberts (22) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Brian O'Driscoll (30) Leinster and Ireland
Keith Earls (21) Munster and Ireland
Riki Flutey (29) Wasps and England

Fly-half

Stephen Jones (31) Llanelli Scarlets and Wales
Ronan O'Gara (32) Munster and Ireland

Scrum-half

Mike Phillips (26) Ospreys and Wales
Harry Ellis (26) Leicester and England
Tomas O'Leary (25) Munster and Ireland

Prop

Gethin Jenkins (28) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Adam Jones (28) Ospreys and Wales
Andrew Sheridan(29) Sale and England
Phil Vickery (33) Wasps and England
Euan Murray (28) Northampton and Scotland

Hooker

Jerry Flannery (30) Munster and Ireland
Lee Mears (30) Bath and England
Matthew Rees (28) Llanelli Scarlets and Wales

Lock

Paul O'Connell, capt (29) Munster and Ireland
Alun Wyn Jones (23) Ospreys and Wales
Donncha O'Callaghan (30) Munster and Ireland
Nathan Hines (32) Perpignan and Scotland
Simon Shaw (35) Wasps and England

Back-row

Andy Powell (27) Cardiff Blues and Wales
Jamie Heaslip (25) Leinster and Ireland
Alan Quinlan (34) Munster and Ireland
Martyn Williams (33) Cardiff Blues and Wales
David Wallace (32) Munster and Ireland
Joe Worsley (31) Wasps and England
Stephen Ferris (23) Ulster and Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tour fixtures:

30 May: Highveld XV; Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg
3 June: Golden Lions; Ellis Park, Johannesburg
6 June: Cheetahs; Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
10 June: Sharks; ABSA Park, Durban
13 June: Western Province; Newlands, Cape Town
16/17 June: Coastal XV; Port Elizabeth (Venue to be confirmed)
20 June: South Africa(first Test) ; ABSA Park, Durban
23 June: Emerging Springboks; Newlands, Cape Town
27 June: South Africa (second Test) ; Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4 July: South Africa (third Test) ; Ellis Park, Johannesburg

cotland snubbed as British Lions squad named
Herald Rugby SportCast

Three RBS 6 Nations captains - Scotland's Mike Blair, Ryan Jones of Wales and England's Steve Borthwick - have failed to make the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa.

Lions manager Gerald Davies today ended the waiting game by announcing a 37-man party for the 10-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 - 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.

Powell has arguably beaten his national captain Jones for a back-row slot, with Jones - Wales' Grand Slam skipper last year - going from hero to zero in just 12 months.

Earls, meanwhile, has provided a dynamic presence for Heineken Cup holders Munster this season, while Quinlan is a renowned hard-man who will relish the challenge of a South African trip.

Joining Jones among the casualties are England full-back Delon Armitage, who impressed many through his outstanding displays this season.

Armitage's omission appears to buck the trend of Lions head coach Ian McGeechan selecting on form, especially as Wales wing Shane Williams has made the cut after an average campaign.

And there are also call-ups for four members of McGeechan's Wasps - centre Riki Flutey, prop Phil Vickery, lock Simon Shaw and back-row forward Joe Worsley.

Former Scortland cap McGeechan said: "To get where we are today 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.

Today marks the end of a comprehensive and detailed selection process.

"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."

Lions manager Gerald Davies, who made the announcement, is a veteran of the legendary 1971 tour to New Zealand. He said: "Being selected as a Lion is a huge honour for a player and marks a major highlight in his career. I congratulate each of the players on their selection and look forward to a successful and rewarding tour to South Africa.

"We now have a short space of time in which to prepare for the tour and build a team that is capable of taking on the world champions.

"As ambassadors for British and Irish rugby I know the players will be dedicated to the adventure and task ahead. They might hail from four different countries but on tour they will play for the one jersey, one philosophy, one style and have one ambition, to return home as winners."

O'Connell is among a record 14 Irishmen selected for the trip, which starts against a High Veld XV in Rustenburg on May 30.

The eight-strong Munster contingent also equals the Lions record for one team, jointly held by Newport (1910) and Leicester (2005), when then Lions boss Sir Clive Woodward took an inflated squad.

Four players, meanwhile, make their third Lions trip - centre Brian O'Driscoll, fly-half Ronan O'Gara, lock Simon Shaw and flanker Martyn Williams.

Shaw is the only survivor from the Lions' 1997 South African expedition, and will be the oldest tourists at 35.

Cardiff Blues speedster Halfpenny, in contrast, is the youngest Lion of 2009 at 20.