The squad announcement for the British & Irish Lions is usually rugby’s equivalent of a general election, preceded by a frenzy of speculation, leaks and vitriolic exchanges. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent. Ireland captain Johnny Sexton misses out at fly-half while England’s Kyle Sinckler is a surprise omission at tighthead prop. That just about does it for our live coverage of the British and Irish Lions squad announcement. Until then, however, farewell, and do stay safe and well. After months of conjecture, Warren Gatland will this week announce his Lions squad to take on South Africa. - A significant marker of the British and Irish Lions cycle will be reached this week when Warren Gatland names his squad for the tour of South Africa. Iraq manager Srečko Katanec has announced a 24-man squad for the national team’s long-awaited return to action. Exeter man was called up by Warren Gatland despite having not featured for England for more than three years, “There wasn’t one position we weren’t having a good discussion about which players to name. 37 Not 36: Lions Squad Announced. Thank you for joining us! The first tour fixture sees them take on Stormers on 3 July before meeting the world champions for the first time on 24 July. Warren Gatland is whittling down his options as he prepares to announce his squad for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa. Key squad decisions for South Africa tour Discussions had by fans and pundits alike will be given their answers as the team … It would be a major shock were Sexton not to go on tour, but with Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Finn Russell all firmly in contention it isn’t completely out of the question. A proud moment for Chris Harris, who’d have a pretty good shot of a starting jersey, you’d think, given his defensive aptitude and familiarity with Steve Tandy and Gregor Townsend in defence and attack. Warren Gatland will confirm his 36-man travelling party to. There will be Champions Cup and domestic matches before the line-up is announced … After months of speculation, it will in fact be a tour of South Africa as originally planned, albeit a shorter one compared to New Zealand four years ago. Louis Rees-Zammit has been included in Warren Gatland’s 37-man squad for the 2021 Lions Tour – despite only turning 20 in February. Follow all the latest news live as the British and Irish Lions’ 37-man squad is announced today. The Lions split their series against New Zealand in 2017, following a dramatic 15-15 draw in the decider in Auckland. BREAKING NEWS: Alun Wyn Jones is CONFIRMED as Lions captain as Warren Gatland makes last minute call to up his squad number from 36 to 37 for tour to South Africa this summer British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer announced today Welsh veteran Alun Wyn Jones has been confirmed as […] The Lions squad announcement is live on Sky Sports Mix. There are some familiar faces, with the inclusion of 3-time tourist Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) named as captain. Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Finn Russell will be in contention for the fly-half positions. 1. New odds show some significant changes … He’d be the most similar outside centre to likely opposite Lukhanyo Am, so integral in South Africa’s World Cup triumph, with what each does leading the outside blitz. Always good to see someone’s life change on video: England outcast, Exeter star - Sam Simmonds may not be a favourite of Eddie Jones but offers something different for Warren Gatland, with his footwork, pace and genuine X-Factor, as well as a real nose for the line. This is the British and Irish Lions squad most likely to be named on May 6, according to the latest predictions. Key squad decisions for South Africa tour. It's set to be a spectacular summer of sport, with the Olympics and Paralympics … The big South-African-born Scotland international Duhan van der Merwe also staked a strong case to join his international captain Hogg on the plane. Join our rugby forum on Facebook, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Gold prices jump over 1% after U.S. April jobs report much weaker than forecast, April Jobs Report Crash: 266,000 Added Against 1 Million-Plus Forecast. admin - May 6, 2021. A reinvigorated Ireland and Scotland, at least, offer more hope, having both finished on 15 points in the championship. After months of conjecture, Warren Gatland will soon announce his Lions squad to take on South Africa for the 2021 edition of the Lions tour. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Louis Rees-Zammit is the most junior tourist this time around, two years younger than Maro Itoje was when he was the youngest in 2017. 2021 British and Irish Lions squad revealed, British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland, Gatland reveals Lions squad for tour of South Africa, Preview: Gatland must find right characters for tour like no other, Lions tour of South Africa: Full schedule, dates and fixtures, Alun Wyn Jones named Lions captain as squad revealed, Alun Wyn Jones named captain of side in South Africa, Kyle Sinckler, Johnny Sexton and Jonny May miss out, Sam Simmonds and Bundee Aki make 37-man squad, Alun Wyn Jones named captain as Warren Gatland reveals Lions squad. The versatile Daly is probably the most at-risk of the big-name English backs to miss out, and there is also a chance that Gatland will opt against picking a single Irish player in his back three selection, with none of Hugo Kennan, Jacob Stockdale, Keith Earls and Jordan Larmour making a case that demands a place. BY: Rudi Kinsella May 06, 2021. shares 2. Jones will […] How Sam Simmonds went from England outsider to on the Lions tour, Get up to £200 back in travel credit using this Booking.com discount, Use this Debenhams discount and save up to 70% on men's lines - Spring offer, Up to 30% discount with garden offers at Ideal World, Up to 70% AliExpress discount on super value deals this week, Argos discount code: Save £20 on this Canon photo printer, The summer tour will feature five warm-ups and three Tests. Gatland’s decision has been made for him regarding a couple of potential picks however, with George North rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament just days after lock Joe Launchbury suffered a similar injury. 4 2021 British and Irish Lions squad announcement LIVE More News Premium feature exclusive to TheXV.Rugby - Free Trial Pulling power The Crusaders have surprised the rugby world by making perhaps their highest profile signing ever. When Is The Lions Squad Announced For The 2021 Tour Of South Africa? The website of the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa 2021, playing three tests against the Rugby World Cup winning Springboks Stuart Hogg, Hugo Keenan, Liam Williams; Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit, Anthony Watson; Owen Farrell, Robbie Henshaw, Sam Johnson, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi; Dan Biggar, Finn Russell; Conor Murray, Tomos Williams, Gareth Davies. 05/06/2021 Comments Off on British and Irish Lions squad announced with Alun Wyn Jones captain. Now, the next big event for fans' diaries is Thursday, May 6. British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland will announce his squad for the upcoming South Africa tour on Thursday. Gregor Townsend, who will join Gatland on the Lions coaching staff, unsurprisingly believes his Scotland players have done enough to boast more of a presence in the Lions set-up than usual. As often proves true, the prognosticators were almost entirely wrong, with a number of curveballs thrown by Warren Gatland and his staff and plenty to digest among the 37 names. Finn Russell I know very well, but I’m looking forward to working with Dan Biggar and Owen Farrell as well. A number of those players will have to miss out. Few England representatives did themselves many favours with humbling, ill-disciplined defeats to Scotland, Ireland and Wales – the first time they have suffered that triple fate inside the same year in decades. The three tens will be the players I work with most. Want to talk all things rugby union with fellow fans and i staff? Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. The Lions squad will be announced on Thursday, May 6. Daily Express :: Sport Feed 0 Reviews Write a Review Submit Review The live stream will be presented by Lee McKenzie who is joined by Lions legends Sam Warburton, Jason Robinson, Tommy Bowe and Gavin Hastings, and the great Springboks wing Bryan Habana. The decision has made Jones the oldest captain in Lions […] Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has been left out of coach Gatland’s 37-man squad, which tours South Africa from 3 July until 7 August. That's when Gatland and his team will announce the official Lions squad to … One man who has been denied the chance to stake his claim in the Champions Cup is 2017 Test starter Johnny Sexton, as an ongoing concussion problem ruled the Irishman out of Leinster’s semi-final at La Rochelle. When is the Lions squad announced? His agency, Logan Brown Sports, announced his signing. When is the Lions 2021 squad announcement? A slightly different video, but along similarly pleasing lines. For all the uncertainty surrounding who will make Gatland’s starting XV, however, at least the tour’s precarious future is now sorted. Make sure you keep up to date with all of the latest rugby news by signing up to our handy newsletter! Follow all the latest updates after Warren Gatland revealed his 37-man squad for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa this summer, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. • Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky: A four-year starter at center, Jackson was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2020. By. Lions coach Warren Gatland has named his 37-man squad (not 36) to take on the Springboks this Summer in South Africa. Of course, it is not only the Six Nations that will sway Gatland, with domestic and European rugby continuing in earnest in recent months. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Getty Images Sport David Rogers Posted on : 05/03/2021. Lions coach Warren Gatland has named his 37-man squad (not 36) to take on the Springboks this Summer in South Africa. There are players who can do both things, players who are more suited to a physical game and players more suited to playing wide with ball-in-hand.”. We sent out over 70 letters to players and picked a squad of 37. The Six Nations gave him plenty to consider and while he will have been buoyed by the success of his former side, Wales – in spite of their agonisingly late concession of that Brice Dulin try which cost them the Grand Slam – Gatland’s call-ups from the other Home Nations will be less straightforward. Apologies for a third video in this ilk in reasonably quick succesion, but this might be the best yet. Tweet on Twitter. It comes out every week, direct to your inbox, so sign up now, and while you are there, do have a peruse of our plentiful other offerings, too, to ensure you don’t miss out on exclusive, free content. Gatland has made 36-year-old, Alun Wyn Jones, his captain for the tour. The Lions squad will be announced in early May and there is still plenty of club rugby to get through between now and the scheduled first game … The announcement will be made by Lions … We’ll have plenty more reaction to the squad over the next few days, and it is little more than a month now until the squad first convenes for a training camp on Jersey (assuming political tensions have eased, of course!). The Lions will travel to Dubai for two friendly games against Jordan on 12 November and Uzbekistan on 17 November. The squad will be announced on Thursday, May 6. The Lions will start with a pre-tour match against Japan at Murrayfield before jetting off to South Africa where they play five warm-up matches and three Tests, two matches fewer than a regular tour. Ireland‘s CJ Stander is also an option, with the 31-year-old hoping for the ultimate finale to his career, made special by his South African heritage. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Gatland will confirm his 36-man travelling party on Thursday 6 May, with the announcement set to be streamed live on the Lions website. British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, England representatives did themselves many favours, How to watch the Lions squad announcement, Townsend and Tandy get Lions call as reward for Scotland’s Six Nations showing, Nigel Owens: ‘Farrell used to bellow at referees but he’s learned to respect us’, How the Lions could line up for first Test on 2021 tour to South Africa, Mercer reveals why he is not worried about turning his back on England (for now), Jones has England backing after ‘self-aware’ and ‘humble’ review, 7 July: South Africa Invitational XV (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium), 10 July: Cell C Sharks (Jonsson Kings Park), 14 July: South Africa A (Mbombela Stadium), 24 July: South Africa, 1st Test (FNB Stadium), 31 July: South Africa, 2nd Test (Cape Town Stadium), 7 August: South Africa, 3rd Test (Emirates Airline Park). Warren Gatland Leads The Lions For A Fourth Consecutive Tour In 2021 (Photo By Sky Sports). There are plenty of big talking points, like the captaincy, which has been handed to Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones after leading his country to the Six Nations title in the spring. Warren Gatland Leads The Lions For A Fourth Consecutive Tour In 2021 (Photo By Sky Sports). Even then though, Jones may not be guaranteed a starting berth in what is naturally a highly competitive squad pooling the resources of the four nations. Share on Facebook. We are going to have to match and bring our own physicality but also have a game of speed, movement and finding space. It is customary for that player to take possession and responsibiliy for the Lions’ cuddly toy mascot BIL, a role fulfilled by this tour’s captain Alun Wyn Jones last time the British and Irish Lions ventured to South Africa. All of those players who received letters and didn’t get picked are on that standby list if we get injuries.”. Spread the loveBritish and Irish Lions: 37-man squad announced for tour of South Africa British and Irish Lions head coach, Warren Gatland, has named his 37-man squad for their tour of South Africa. What tips might Jones have for his team-mate, who ranks as one of the youngest Lions selections ever? When is the Lions squad announced? 5:54am, 07 May 2021. And that’s before you even get to arguably the best winger in world rugby across the last four years, Jonny May, and two of England’s starting Lions from four years ago, Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly. What TV channel is the Lions squad announcement on and can I live stream it? Here’s all you need to know ahead of Gatland’s squad … He has announced he will retire this summer. England scrum-half Ben Youngs has also made himself unavailable for selection, leaving Gatland with one less choice at an already tricky position. When is the squad announced? Stuart Hogg will hardly have needed to do much convincing, but there are those such as Hamish Watson who will be waiting anxiously to see if there is room in a competitive Lions back-row to reward him for an impressive Six Nations. All the latest British and Irish Lions news ahead of facing Springboks on their South Africa 2021 tour including schedule, tickets, squad and more. The first order of business will be the announcement of the Lions tour captain at 12.09pm before the full squad is announced at 12.28pm by the team’s chairman Jason Leonard. The squad will gather in Baghdad before travelling to the UAE where the two games will act as […] “We are going to have to have more than one type of game. Watson will be competing with England’s Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, Welsh pair Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi and the Irish contingent of Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Beirne. The captain will be announced at 12.15pm followed by the rest of the travelling party at 12.30pm. BREAKING NEWS: Alun Wyn Jones is CONFIRMED as Lions captain as Warren Gatland makes last minute call to up his squad number from 36 to 37 for tour to South Africa this summer. ... 36 is due to be announced on 6 May and, logistics permitting, he will attend France’s postponed game … LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Sam Warburton (Captain) speaks to the media during the British and Irish Lions tour squad announcement at the Hilton London Syon Park Hotel on April 19, 2017 in London, England. Former Ireland international and 2009 British & Irish Lions tourist Stephen Ferris assess how potential squad members are shaping up ahead of … The Guardian - Michael Aylwin • 1d. The British and Irish Lions take on South Africa in the first of three Tests on July 4. Who did enough in the Six Nations to make Gatland’s Lions squad? The flanker positions will pose some significant headaches for Gatland with a host of talent available. The 2021 Lions squad will be announced on Thursday 6 May in a virtual event. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Who is the youngest ever British and Irish Lion? Share this article: EIGHT IRISHMAN included are included in the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer. One of the few Englishmen flattered by their recent debacle was Sam Underhill, who was conspicuously absent through injury and whom Eddie Jones missed badly. The squad will be announced on Thursday, May 6. When is the Lions squad announcement? Rugby union correspondent Hugh Godwin picks his squad of 36 (20 forwards, 16 backs), based on form in the big competitions this season, and/or residual class: Joe Marler, Rory Sutherland, Mako Vunipola; Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Ken Owens; Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler, Zander Fagerson; Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Adam Beard, Tadhg Beirne, Jonny Gray; Josh van der Flier, Hamish Watson, Tom Curry, Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau, Billy Vunipola. British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is set name a 36-man squad on Friday, May 6 for their tour to South Africa. CONFIRMED: British and Irish Lions squad announced. Head coach Warren Gatland has selected 21 forwards and 16 backs and the players were not been told beforehand, finding out along with the rest of the world. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. A live stream for the squad announcement will start at 11.45am on the Lions’ website, social media channels (Facebook, YouTube and Twitter) and on the official app. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Keep up to date with all the latest sports news, gossip and expert opinion… Headlines: British and Irish & Lions squad announced for tour of South Africa as Alun Wyn Jones named captain M… face the Springboks on 6 May. The Lions selection committee also have some big decisions to make about the back three, with the superb spring form of Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and Liam Williams making it likely that all three Welsh fliers could make the plane. British and Irish Lions squad announced: Full 37-man team for South Africa tour The British and Irish Lions take on South Africa in the first of three Tests on July 4. British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland will announce his squad for the upcoming South Africa tour on Thursday. 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