Warren Gatland names British and Irish Lions squad

Warren Gatland has announced his British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer.
Welshman Sam Warburton will captain the squad, which includes 15 Welsh, 10 English, 9 Irish and three Scottish, in the three-match Test series against the Wallabies which starts on June 22.
England captain Chris Robshaw has not been included in the 37-man party but Saracens prop Matt Stevens and Scotland winger Sean Maitland have.
In the highly-contested back row, Robshaw, who led England to victory against the All Blacks last December, lost his place to Tom Croft, Sean O’Brien and Welsh trio Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate.
Despite impressing in the last Six Nations, Scotland captain Kelly Brown and Welshman Ryan Jones also miss out alongside Robshaw.
After leading Toulon to the Heineken Cup final with a man-of-the-match display, Jonny Wilkinson raised his case to return to Australia where he famously won the World Cup with England in 2003 but instead Gatland has opted to take long-time favourite Jonny Sexton to lead the attack with Owen Farrell providing the cover.
But the biggest surprise comes from the front row with the inclusion of Stevens who retired from Test rugby last August.
The 30-year-old, who can cover both sides of the scrum, has won his place in the plane over the likes of Scotland’s Ryan Grant and Ireland’s Mike Ross who were tipped to be included in recent weeks.
Stevens will be joined in the front row by club teammate Mako Vunipola who has been in superb form all season for Saracens while fellow England prop Dan Cole is one of the tightheads. Cian Healy, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins complete the prop roster.
After being tipped as a potential captain, Ireland and Ulster hooker Rory Best didn’t get a plane ticket at all with Dylan Hartley named as the third hooker alongside Richard Hibbard and Tom Youngs.
In the second row, lineout specialist Geoff Parling will have to battle with the returning Paul O’Connell, Richie Gray, Ian Evans and Alun-Wyn Jones for a place in the engine room.
There was no surprise at scrum-half either with Mike Phillips, Ben Youngs and Connor Murray all included.
Manu Tuilagi, who tore apart the All Blacks midfield in December, is included as a midfield option but will face fierce competition from the 2009 partnership of Jamie Roberts and veteran Brian O’Driscoll and Jonathan Davies.
Out wide, there is no place in the squad for Chris Ashton, Tim Visser or Christian Wade as Alex Cuthbert, George North, Tommy Bowe and Maitland will provide the striking power.
Kiwi born Maitland, 24, arrived in Glasgow last October and made a try-scoring debut to his Test career against England at Twickenham in the Six Nations.
Leigh Halfpenny and Rob Kearney will be the last line of defence but the exciting Stuart Hogg could wiggle his way in the Test side with his attacking prowess.
2013 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD
BACKS (16)
Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Wings: Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), George North (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland)
Centres: Jamie Roberts (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Manu Tuilagi (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Fly-Halves: Jonny Sexton (Ireland), Owen Farrell (England)
Scrum-Halves: Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England), Connor Murray (Ireland)
FORWARDS (21)
Props: Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Cian Healy (Ireland), Adam Jones (Wales), Dan Cole (England), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England)
Hookers: Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England), Dylan Hartley (England)
Locks: Ian Evans (Wales), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England)
Flankers: Tom Croft (England), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales); Sam Warburton (Wales, Captain), Justin Tipuric (Wales)
No.8s: Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)

NICK VERDIER