After four years of waiting, The British & Irish Lions squad to head to New Zealand later this year was unveiled earlier today in London.
Warren Gatland and his coaching staff have picked a 41-man squad to take on the All Blacks and Sam Warburton makes history after being announced as captain for the second time.
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The Wales flanker also led the tourists to victory in 2013 against Australia and everyone has had their say on the squad on social media unveiled for the 2017 Tour.
First word goes to Warburton who joins Martin Johnson as one of only two men to have led the Lions on successive Tours.
Click here for the official 41-man Lions squad
Thanks for all the extremely kind messages. Amazing honour to captain the @lionsofficial again. Squad looks very very strong! #AllForOne???
— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) April 19, 2017
Warburton’s selection as skipper has met universal approval, and World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper was first in with his congratulations.
Many congratulations to @samwarburton_ on becoming only the second player, after Martin Johnson, to captain two @lionsofficial tours.
— Brett Gosper (@brettgosper) April 19, 2017
16 Englishmen made the cut for Gatland’s 41-man squad and Kyle Sinckler’s inclusion certainly caused a stir:
Wow
— Kyle Sinckler (@KyleSinckler) April 19, 2017
Fellow Englishman Anthony Watson got the nod in the backline as well, much to his own surprise it would appear:
It's all mad…
— Anthony Watson (@anthonywatson_) April 19, 2017
Courtney Lawes has also thanked everyone for the congratulations after getting the nod to take on the All Blacks, and it was a double celebration as the news came on his son's birthday!
Thank you everyone for your kind messages It's an honour to be selected for the tour to NZ And… https://t.co/WwKUcl2odD
— Courtney Lawes (@Courtney_Lawes) April 19, 2017
Ben Youngs was another man to find out with his children's involvement!
Honoured to be named in the @lionsofficial touring squad. Was fun finding out in the car listening to @talkSPORT with the kids screaming ?
— Ben Youngs (@benyoungs09) April 19, 2017
Wales centre Jonathan Davies – one of 12 Welshmen in the squad – will head on his second Lions Tour. But his namesake and Wales legend 'Jiffy' Davies is equally excited about another outside centre's inclusion:
So glad @Jonathanjoseph0 in @lionsofficial he's got that something special.
— Jonathan Davies OBE (@JiffyRugby) April 19, 2017
While Ulster and Ireland star Jared Payne will be returning to the land of his birth this summer after finding out about his inclusion.
He is one of 11 Irishmen in the squad and cannot wait to strut his stuff in the land of the long white cloud.
? Jared reacts to his @lionsofficial selection pic.twitter.com/7iZ8OCj8zS
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) April 19, 2017
The two Scots in the squad are Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour and the Scottish Rugby Union celebrated with them this afternoon.
Stuart Hogg & Tommy Seymour have arrived at BT Murrayfield! #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/nsxrIDx1IQ
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) April 19, 2017
