Gatland has also named Alun Wyn Jones
. Several players are named in a Lions squad for a first time, including Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Chris Harris, Ali Price, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Zander Fagerson, Iain Henderson, Jonny Hill, Wyn Jones, Andrew Porter, Sam Simmonds, Rory Sutherland and Hamish Watson. “We believe we’ve picked a squad capable of winning a Test series in South Africa,” said Gatland. “Selecting a Lions squad is never easy and, in many ways, this has been the most challenging selection I have been involved in. Over the course of the last three weeks the coaches and I have rigorously debated each position.
“We saw some outstanding performance in the recent Six Nations, so competition for places has been tough with some incredibly tight calls to make. “However, we are very happy with the squad we have assembled and look forward to meeting up in Jersey in just over a month’s time to start our preparation to take on the World Champions. We've left out some very talented players which gives an indication to the strength of this squad and we know how important that stand-by list will be. “Being selected for a Lions Tour is the greatest honour for a British and Irish player and I congratulate everyone named today.”
Backs (16):
Josh Adams (Cardiff, Wales) Wing Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) Centre Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) Fly-half Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) Centre Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) Scrum-half Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) Fly-half Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) Centre Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) Centre Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) Full-back Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) Scrum-half Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) Scrum-half Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) Wing Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) Fly-half Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) Wing Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) Wing Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) Full-back
Forwards (21):
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) Second row Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) Back row Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) Hooker Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) Back row Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) Prop Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) Back row Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) Prop Jamie George (Saracens, England) Hooker Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) Second row Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England) Second row Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) Second row
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales) (Captain) Second row
Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) Prop Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) Second row Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) Hooker Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) Prop Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) Back row Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) Prop Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, Wales) Back row Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) Prop Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) Back row
