Paul O’Connell was yesterday named as the captain of the British and Irish Lions squad that will tour South Africa later this year.
The 29-year-old Ireland lock was handed the role ahead of compatriot Brian O’Driscoll, who captained Ireland to their Grand Slam triumph in this season’s Six Nations.
An aggressive ball-carrier and accomplished line-out operator with a reputation as the most feared second-row forward in the northern hemisphere, O’Connell will lead the 37-man squad named by Ian McGeechan, who was also the Lions coach when they last won a series in South Africa in 1997.
O’Driscoll was one of 14 Ireland players included in the squad.
McGeechan said he had opted for O’Connell because of the leadership qualities he demonstrated in leading Munster to victory in the European Cup last year.
“Paul O’Connell has shown over his career that he is a natural leader both on and off the field,” McGeechan said.
“He leads from the front on the field and as a quality international has the respect of his fellow players all over the world,” he said.
The Lions take on South Africa in the first Test at Durban on June 20.
LIONS SQUAD:
Backs: Leigh Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Tom Shanklin (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England), Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales), Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomas O’Leary (Ireland).
Forwards: Andrew Sheridan (England), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland), Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), David Wallace (Ireland), Martyn Williams (Wales), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales).
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