Wales back row Sam Warburton will captain the British and Irish Lions on their tour of New Zealand this summer, but England skipper Dylan Hartley has not been selected in the 41-man squad.
Coach Warren Gatland has chosen 16 England players, 12 from Wales, 11 from Ireland and two from Scotland.
The tour, which runs from 3 June to 8 July, features three Tests against the All Blacks, who are world champions.
“There were some pretty lively debates finalising the squad,” said Gatland.
“We are very happy with the quality of squad we have,” added the New Zealander, who also took charge of the Lions in 2013.
Warburton, 28, also led the Lions to victory over Australia in 2013.
The former Wales skipper is only the second player, after England’s Martin Johnson, to lead the Lions in two tours.
He stepped down as Wales captain before the 2017 Six Nations and was replaced by lock Alun Wyn Jones, who also took over when Warburton was injured for the third Lions Test four years ago.
Hartley, 31, misses out despite leading England to a second straight Six Nations title, with compatriot Jamie George, Ireland’s Rory Best and Wales’ Ken Owens the three hookers selected.
The Northampton Saints player is the third England captain in succession to miss out on Lions selection, after Steve Borthwick in 2009 and Chris Robshaw in 2013.
England centre Jonathan Joseph is included, but there is no place for fellow Six Nations winners Joe Launchbury, George Ford, James Haskell and Robshaw.
Wales number eight Ross Moriarty is a surprise inclusion, while New Zealand-born Ireland centre Jared Payne is also selected.
Verdict: A decision that will be doubly galling to Hartley – missing out on a tour to the country of his birth and seeing a man picked who is his back-up for England. Even if, in truth, it was more of a battle for the third hooker’s spot between Hartley and Owens.
Stat: All 17 of George’s caps for England have been as a replacement.
Decision: Launchbury and Gray brothers out, Henderson in
Verdict: While Henderson’s display against England in the Six Nations may have sealed his place, Launchbury’s sterling efforts in the first four matches have not been enough. Richie and Jonny Gray, meanwhile, can take consolation in the fact the second row is the most competitive position in the squad.
Stats: Richie Gray has started 56 of his 65 appearances for Scotland, Jonny Gray 29 of his 33. Of Henderson’s 32 caps for Ireland, almost half have come off the bench.
Decision: Joseph, Payne and Moriarty in
Verdict: It was reported Joseph would miss out, but his sweet angles and steps could prove critical in a Test series where the Lions will have to score multiple tries to win matches. Moriarty’s form for Wales and an expanded squad of 41 get him in; Payne represented New Zealand Under-21s, and comes with both local knowledge and caps for Gatland’s old side Waikato.
Stat: Joseph has scored 80 points in 33 appearances for England.
British and Irish Lions 2017 squad
Forwards: Rory Best (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), George Kruis (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Joe Marler (England), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Ross Moriarty (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), Ken Owens (Wales), Kyle Sinckler (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Billy Vunipola (England), Mako Vunipola (England), Sam Warburton (Wales)
Backs: Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Jonathan Joseph (England), Conor Murray (Ireland), George North (Wales), Jack Nowell (England), Jared Payne (Ireland), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Tommy Seymour (Scotland), Ben Te’o (England), Anthony Watson (England), Rhys Webb (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Ben Youngs (England)
