Slice of history for Warburton
WELSHMAN RETAINS CAPTAINCY FOR KIWI TOUR No room for Dylan Hartley in touring party as combined side prepare for tough assignment in New Zealand.
Sam Warburton will captain the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand, but there was no place in the 41-man squad for England skipper Dylan Hartley.
Wales back-row Warburton, 28, who skippered the combined side on their victorious 2013 tour of Australia, becomes just the second man after England great Martin Johnson (1997 and 2001) to lead the Lions on two tours.
In contrast, New Zealand-born hooker Hartley is the biggest casualty and the third successive England skipper to miss out on Lions selection after Steve Borthwick and Chris Robshaw.
Hartley was not the only notable England omission, with lock Joe Launchbury also missing out.
New Zealand-born Lions coach Warren Gatland – who called it “the toughest tour” – gave surprise call-ups yesterday to Ireland fullback Jared Payne, England wing Jack Nowell and Wales backrow Ross Moriarty.
Warburton stood down from the Wales captaincy this season and is currently out with a knee injury. But he is expected to be fit before the squad departs on May 29 for a tour that will feature a three-Test series against world champions New Zealand.
“I found out last Thursday when Gats called. I was in a supermarket car park and didn’t believe him at first,” Warburton said.
He was the skipper and Gatland, again on secondment from his job as Wales boss, the coach when the Lions won 2-1 in Australia four years ago. – AFP
Backs: Fullback/Wings: Elliot Daly (Eng), Anthony Watson (Eng), Lee Halfpenny (Wal), Liam Williams (Wal), George North (Wal), Stuart Hogg (Sco), Jack Nowell (Eng), Jared Payne (Irl), Tommy Seymour (Sco). Centres: Ben Te’o (Eng), Jonathan Davies (Wal), Owen Farrell (Eng), Robbie Henshaw (Irl), Jonathan Joseph (Eng). Flyhalves: Jonathan Sexton (Irl), Dan Biggar (Wal). Scrumhalves: Conor Murray (Irl), Rhys Webb (Wal), Ben Youngs (Eng).
Forwards: Back Rows: Taulupe Faletau (Wal), Billy Vunipola (Eng), Sam Warburton (Wal, capt), Sean O’brien (Irl), Cj Stander (Irl), Ross Moriarty (Wal), Peter O’mahony (Irl), Justin Tipuric (Wal). Locks: Maro Itoje (Eng), Alun Wyn Jones (Wal), Iain Henderson (Irl), George Kruis (Eng), Courtney Lawes (Eng). Tighthead Props: Tadhg Furlong (Irl), Dan Cole (Eng), Kyle Sinckler (Eng). Hookers: Jamie George (Eng), Rory Best (Irl), Ken Owens (Wal). Loosehead Props: Mako Vunipola (Eng), Joe Marler (Eng), Jack Mcgrath (Irl).