Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

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Captain Alun Wyn Jones leads his nation's contingent with Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric joining him.

Notable omissions include Lions 2017 man of the series Jonathan Davies, flanker Josh Navidi, prop Tomas Francis, scrum-halves Tomos Williams and Kieran Hardy, while George North is missing through injury.

Ten out of 37 would probably be less than the Six Nations champions would have expected. It was likely to have been 11 with North.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI

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Eight Lions marks Ireland’s smallest contingent in the original squad since the 2001 tour.

Andrew Porter, Jack Conan and Bundee Aki are the most surprising names, while Johnny Sexton, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan are easily the biggest omissions.

Sexton has always divided opinion, and his omission will do exactly that. Here’s a guy who kicked 39 points in his two most recent international matches, and rather emphatically out-duelled Finn Russell, George Ford and Owen Farrell.

Or, if your Sexton glass is half-empty, here’s a guy who has suffered three head injuries since February. In the end Gatland and his coaches have decided the questions marks over his durability have left him less suited to the rigours of a Lions tour than the selected fly-halves.

James Ryan missing out is also a huge shock, a year ago he was seen as Ireland’s sure thing. Ringrose missing out with Aki going tells you everything about the physical battle Gatland is expecting in South Africa. You suspect both Ringrose and Ryan are high on the reserve list.

Few people would have predicted Porter’s selection. The prop has the unenviable task of sitting behind Tadhg Furlong for both club and country, so don’t let his amount of replacement appearances deceive you. He was excellent throughout 2020 when Furlong was injured, and would have a lot more international starts if it wasn’t for the man known as the Wexford bull.

Finally a word for Conor Murray. His third Lions tour, that is an unbelievable achievement. The scrum-half’s form took a dip in 2019, and there were suggestions that his best days were behind him. Apparently not, form is temporary after all.

Chris Harris to close a game out, Finn Russell to chase it.

Something for every situation in the Scotland contingent.

Andy Burke
BBC Scotland rugby reporter

Given the paltry return of just two players in the initial squad four years ago, eight this time around is an emphatic endorsement of Scotland’s recent progress under Gregor Townsend.

Wins away to Wales, England and France over the past seven months have clearly addressed Warren Gatland’s previously held fears about Scottish players’ ability to perform on the road.

Of the eight Scots selected, perhaps it’s Chris Harris who’s come from furthest back to earn selection. Not so long ago many questioned if he was international class. Now his superb defensive capabilities have made him a Lion.

There you go.

Some of the headlines.

• Sam Simmonds, without an England cap in more than three years, is preferred to Billy Vunipola in the back row
• Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, a key part of the 2017 tour, is left out.
• Courtney Lawes, out injured since February, is included in the forwards as is Exeter and England second row Jonny Hill
• Ireland centre Bundee Aki brings midfield power in absence of Manu Tuilagi
• Wales centre Jonathan Davies, England prop Kyle Sinckler and Ireland second row James Ryan are big-name omissions.

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan Dickie, Tom Curry, Zander Fagerson, Taulupe Faletau, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Iain Henderson, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Wyn Jones, Courtney Lawes, Ken Owens, Andrew Porter, Sam Simmonds, Rory Sutherland, Justin Tipuric, Mako Vunipola, Hamish Watson.

No Billy Vunipola

Backs: Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly, Gareth Davies, Owen Farrell, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray, Ali Price, Louis Rees-Zammit, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Anthony Watson, Liam Williams.

No Sexton.

GMcG: Surely Townsend’s selection input will get a few Scots in the squad.

Nathan C J Hood: Bolter Olli Kebble. No place for Jamie George or Hamish Watson.

Jason Leonard is on stage. Just a little big-up for the sponsors and then we are into the names...

It is time...

And you thought Uefa could spin out a Champions League draw...

Sam Warburton and Gavin Hastings are telling us how special the Lions are. Think we are all on the same page on that. Time to open the envelope...

Right, Alun Wyn Jones, appearing virtually at the event, disappears off stage and we are creeping up on the announcement of the 36 men to join him in South Africa.

First though a bit of 2013 and 2017 captain Sam Warburton who says that the captaincy means that AWJ has "completed rugby".

Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones said: "I'm obviously very proud and privileged.

"To be selected in the squad is initially what you want to be hearing as a player. To have the armband as well is a privilege.

"I had a call from Gats on Sunday evening - actually a missed call.

"I thought I'd better give him a call back. We had a quick chat and I accepted obviously.

"Initially the aim is to get into the squad. I've just got a huge amount of pride to be able to add this to the CV.

"There is a lot of work to do when we get out there."

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Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones - a veteran of three previous Lions tours - is confirmed as the captain of the 2021 tour of South Africa.

The 35-year-old led his country to the Six Nations title this spring and there won't be anyone with any arguments against his selection.

England's Maro Itoje, who will be a team-mate and a rival in the second row, was considered the other leading candidate, with Owen Farrell and Stuart Hogg, captains of England and Scotland respectively, also mentioned.

Warren Gatland has just revealed that the Lions squad is actually going to be 37 strong, rather than the expected 36 players. Apparently a four-hour selection meeting yesterday forced the expansion.

Well, well, well.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland said: "In all my time in coaching this is the most challenging squad I've ever been involved in picking.

"It is trying to get the balance. At the end of the day, selection is just a matter of opinion and we've got to try and put the best squad together.

"We are trying to put a squad together that we think can go down there and win the series."

Former Springbok Bryan Habana, who faced the Lions in 2009: "The Lions experience is unique and special. It is a once in a career opportunity. The bonds that are formed and memories that are left and the legacy the Lions leave - giving so much more to the country they visit.

"As a player it is one of the most incredible experiences you get to be a part of. You are coming up against the best players in the Northern Hemisphere."

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