Get Involvedpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
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John McEnerney: Keith Earls toured in 09 & has been outstanding of late he could get the nod & no Billy Vunipola.
Summary
Warren Gatland names Exeter number eight Sam Simmonds in Lions squad
Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes, Jack Conan, Chris Harris & Bundee Aki also selected
Johnny Sexton, Billy Vunipola, Henry Slade & Kyle Sinckler left out of 37-player squad
England 11 players, Wales 10, Scotland & Ireland both eight
Wales' Alun Wyn Jones, 35, confirmed as Lions captain
Tests against South Africa on 24 & 31 July and 7 August
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Postpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
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End of twitter postget involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
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Bruce: Can't wait for the announcement of the Lions squad for South Africa. Hope to see some Scots in the mix - more than usual. I hope Finn Russell and Jonny Gray. Would love to see bolters Danny Care and Sam Simmonds.
Mark Bray-Parry: Massive day today... No, not the start of another Anglo-French war or election day... It is the Lions squad announcement! Watch out for the bolters like Simmonds and Care and the big hitters like Sexton and Billy Vunipola who could miss out.
'I found out by Teletext' - Leonardpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
British and Irish Lions chairman Jason Leonard said: "It's the friendships you create on this tour. Every aspect about it is unique. You walk away from your tour and you will have made friendships for life.
"I found out I was going on the tour by Teletext. The letter came afterwards and I have still got it."
Jason Leonard on stagepublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesBarking's finest Jason Leonard, a tourist in 1993, 1997 and 2001 and now the Lions chariman, is on the stage in London.
Confirmation of the captaincy is incoming shortly.
The final selection meetingpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
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End of twitter postThe Lions have released some footage apparently taken from inside Wednesday's final selection pow-wow between head coach Warren Gatland and his support staff.
Rather disappointed that there isn't a dress code for such an important occasion. Gatland looks like he has just taken the bins out.
Check the junk folderpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesPlayers will know they are in contention for a place after around 50 'save-the-date' emails were sent out by the selectors last week.
England and Leicester prop Ellis Genge didn't get one. Or he doesn't think he did.
“I think my emails are broken,” he said when asked if he had been notified about being on Gatland's long-list. “No, I haven’t got one, mate"
“I’m getting my carpets cleaned on Thursday and the TV’s in that room so I won’t be in there. I’ll have my phone with me, but I haven’t had any emails so I'd assume [it's a no].”
He's got a point hasn't he?
I would rather get a recorded delivery letter than be sifting through the bitcoin spam in my junk folder. Look at this lovely headed note that former Scotland second row Jim Hamilton got in 2013.
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End of twitter postReports - Simmonds in, Billy Vunipola misses outpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, GettyThere has been a whole heap of speculation. And more leaks/leeks than a rowdy night at the Principality.
The Daily Telegraph believes that Exeter back row Sam Simmonds, who won the most recent of his seven England caps back in March 2018, is set to be picked., external
The Guardian adds that England number eight Billy Vunipola is set to miss out, external as Simmonds come in, but that Vunipola's Saracens' team-mates - including Elliot Daly - get the nod.
The chosen 36published at 11:53 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesThe only pundit squads you need to prepare for today's announcement are right here on the BBC Sport website where 2009 Lion Ugo Monye and Rugby Union Weekly co-host Chris Jones locked horns over the 36.
There were some absolutely sensational calls. This was Ugo's pick.
Backs: Louis Rees-Zammit (Wal), Anthony Watson (Eng), Stuart Hogg (Sco), Liam Williams (Wal), Josh Adams (Wal), Jack Nowell (Eng), Robbie Henshaw (Ire), Manu Tuilagi (Eng), Henry Slade (Eng), Garry Ringrose (Ire), Dan Biggar (Wal), Owen Farrell (Eng), Marcus Smith (Eng), Conor Murray (Ire),Gareth Davies (Wal), Danny Care (Eng).
Forwards: Wyn Jones (Wal), Mako Vunipola (Eng),Cian Healy (Ire), Luke Cowan Dickie (Eng), Jamie George (Eng), Ken Owens (Wal), Kyle Sinckler (Eng), Tadhg Furlong (Ire), Zander Fagerson (Sco), Maro Itoje (Eng), James Ryan (Ire), Alun Wyn Jones (Wal), Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Tom Curry (Eng), Hamish Watson (Sco), Justin Tipuric (Wal), Aaron Wainwright (Wal), Jamie Ritchie (Sco), Taulupe Faletau (Wal), Sam Simmonds (Eng)
You can see his working and where Chris begged to differ over here.
Image source, GettyGet Involvedpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
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Image source, GettyNot much time left to loudly claim you have the right selection. Not much time until we switch to blaming Warren Gatland for the wrong one.
Get it all out your system.
Hit us up on #bbcrugb, externaly with one player who should be picked but won't be.
I like the cut of Duhan van der Merwe's jib, but not sure Gatland will make space for the Scotland powerhouse wing.
Watching, waiting, wonderingpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesThe second part of today's business is far from a formality.
There are only 36 seats on the plane to South Africa and when the music stops today there are going to be plenty of top-quality players left standing.
Who makes the cut? After pundits from all four corners have had their say, Warren Gatland's definitive verdict is just 45 minutes away.
Wales' Jones to be named as captainpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesThe first announcement is a formality.
Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones, who has played in the last nine British and Irish Lions Tests across three tours, is to be named as the captain for 2021.
The 35-year-old, who led Wales to the Six Nations title this spring, has a world record 157 international caps.
Maro Itoje, Stuart Hogg, Owen Farrell and Ken Owens were also considered contenders for the role.
Annoucement timetablepublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is the order of play for today.
The Lions captain will be revealed at about 12:10 BST, with the full squad named about 20 minutes later.
There will be a slimmed-down 36-man selection, but, as ever with the Lions, there are likely to be players who miss this initial cut, and are called into the fray after injury or suspension.
The class of 2021published at 11:33 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, RexThat man. That tour. This team.
Those were head coach Ian McGeechan's words to the British and Irish Lions before the second Test in Durban in 1997.
Before Scott Gibbs crashed through Os du Randt. Before Keith Woods chipped and chased like fury. Before Jeremy Guscott dropped the decisive series-clinching drop-goal.
The Lions is special. But the Lions in South Africa, that really is different gravy.
And today we find out the 36 players who will have that honour and challenge in 2021.
'There'll just be a look...'published at 11:29 British Summer Time 6 May 2021
Image source, Rex"There are days like this ... many rugby players never have it. Never experience it. It’s special.
"When you come to a day like this, you know why you do it all.
"You know why you;ve been involved. It’s been a privilege. It is a privilege.
"You’ll meet each other in the street in thirty years time, and there’ll just be a look, and you’ll know just how special some days in your life are.
"Go out, enjoy it, remember how you’ve got here, and why.
"And finish it off. And be special for the rest of your lives."