Earning selection for The British & Irish Lions, whether for your first Tour or your third, is one of the career highlights of every rugby player.

And last Wednesday 41 men experienced the unparalleled joy of hearing their name read out by Tour Manager John Spencer at Hilton Syon Park in London.

The 2017 Tour party will head down to New Zealand with the aim of creating history – the Lions last won a Test series against the All Blacks in 1971.

And while the domestic season is still to come to a conclusion, the focus on Wednesday was allowed to turn to the All Blacks and the six-week, ten-match Tour this summer.

The response on social media from the players fortunate enough to earn selection was overwhelmingly positive, starting with skipper Sam Warburton who becomes only the second man after Martin Johnson to captain two Tours in a row.

Leigh Halfpenny was a tourist in 2009 to South Africa and man of the series in 2013 but the thrill of being selected never gets old:

Kyle Sinckler was named as one of six props in the squad, despite not having started a Test for his country, and it was clearly a surprise to the man himself.

His England teammate Anthony Watson was similarly taken aback at his inclusion in the back three.

Tommy Seymour also earns his first-ever Lions call-up on the wing, the Scotland star rewarded for impressive form in this year’s RBS 6 Nations

Another man to earn his spurs because of his fine showings in this year’s Championship is hooker Ken Owens.

While Peter O’Mahony’s displays for his province Munster and in the green of Ireland got him on the plane.

There he will be joined by his Ireland teammate Iain Henderson – one of five locks to make the cut in the touring party.

Robbie Henshaw, Jack McGrath Conor Murray and CJ Stander were also included from the Ireland side that downed the All Blacks in Chicago last summer

Ireland captain on that magical day on Soldier Field was Rory Best and the hooker will now be heading on his second Lions Tour.

Completing the set of three hookers in the squad is Saracens and England star Jamie George – another who has yet to start a Test for England but has made such an impact from the bench that he could not be ignored.

Fellow Saracens, and England locks, Maro Itoje and George Kruis were both humbled by their inclusions.

While Wales star Liam Williams, who will join Saracens following the Lions Tour, was similarly delighted.

His Wales teammate and scrum-half Rhys Webb was overdue some good news after missing the 2015 World Cup with injury.

While one of the other Welshman to surprise a few people with his inclusion was Ross Moriarty – what a perfect birthday present a day before he turned 23!

He will battle in the back row with Sean O’Brien, the Leinster flanker who will be heading on his second Lions Tour.

Another returning after getting his first taste in 2013 is Stuart Hogg, although this time the full-back will not have to look after BIL as the youngest on Tour – that honour goes to Itoje

There will be plenty of familiar faces though as Mako Vunipola, George North and Ben Youngs all return from 2013.

Overall 16 Englishmen made the cut, with Jack Nowell, Joe Marler, Jonathan Joseph and Courtney Lawes all getting their first call-ups.