British and Irish Lions 2021: Sam Simmonds in 37-man squad but Billy Vunipola misses out

Sam Simmonds on a graphic with a picture of a Lion — Sam Simmonds won his last England cap in 2018

Exeter's Sam Simmonds is included ahead of fellow England number eight Billy Vunipola in a 37-man British and Irish Lions squad, with two-time tourist Johnny Sexton also left out.

Wales great Alun Wyn Jones is confirmed as captain for what will be his fourth Lions tour.

England forward Courtney Lawes - out injured since February - and lock Jonny Hill are also in the team.

In the centres, Scotland's Chris Harris and Ireland's Bundee Aki are named.

England's Henry Slade is left out as is 2013 tourist Manu Tuilagi, who last played in September because of an Achilles injury.

More to follow.

British and Irish Lions 2021 squad

Captain: Alun Wyn Jones (Wal)

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

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

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296 comments

Comment posted by SCJ, today at 12:46
Ignore the idiots previously claiming all of England will be rooting for SA - utter drivel. I'm English, but when it comes to a Lions tour I support whoever is in the red jersey. That's partly the point of the Lions. If it's England-Wales then if course I don't want AWJ to win - when he's Lions skipper, I'm right behind him. Well done AWJ, a true legend of the game and loved by all true rugby fans
Comment posted by Unbiased, today at 12:35
Well done alun wyn. Brilliant. Good luck to you and the rest of the lions.
Reply posted by YNWA6TIMES, today at 12:37
YNWA6TIMES replied:
An old man leading a farce of a team..... yeah good luck. Come on Saffers...do it for England
Comment posted by Auntiebob, today at 12:49
Great selection overall - fantastic on the forward front no arguments
Jonny Hill possibly a bit luck given his 6 nations form but he has been great for Exeter

Backs - good grief how bad does no-tackle Daly have to be
Pleased fazzer going to carry the water
Reply posted by Gergio Sarcia, today at 12:53
Gergio Sarcia replied:
As an English fan I have zero idea how Daly has made it in. Also how May isn’t there at the expense of VDM equally amazes me.
Comment posted by margaret, today at 12:32
Not many in these islands will be watching it, another victim of the curse of subsciption TV.
Comment posted by docco, today at 12:49
Far too many English players..Farrell?? OMG
Reply posted by Gergio Sarcia, today at 12:54
Gergio Sarcia replied:
😂😂😂😂😂😂

Told you Celts you’d be frothing.

Guess Gatland isn’t the hero who should be knighted in your eyes now. Xenophobia is going to run wild for the coming hours!!!
Comment posted by Baz Roberts, today at 12:51
No Jonny Grey, I find that a bit surprising. Thank goodness someone has had the sense to Sam Simmons. You may gather Im a Chiefs fan !
Comment posted by Warren T, today at 12:44
Daly and Ake?! really!!
Reply posted by Blott, today at 12:49
Blott replied:
I never saw Bundee Aki being selected, obviously looking to punch a hole through Damian DeAllande
Comment posted by PJL, today at 12:51
Can't believe Aki made it. Was already shocked that he got picked for Ireland ahead of McCloskey...
Comment posted by liverpool supporter right here, today at 12:50
No Johnny Sexton. Mother of God. What is the world coming to when you leave a world class fly half at home while Owen Farrell gets picked instead
Reply posted by Gergio Sarcia, today at 12:52
Gergio Sarcia replied:
Because OF can play 12 and isn’t likely to have to limp off after 5 minutes.
Comment posted by kraken, today at 12:35
Whether you agree with this or not, I am sure the team will get behind him with their full support.
Comment posted by Gergio Sarcia, today at 12:35
The coverage is utter drivel. We’re all watching for the squad announcement. Couldn’t give a monkeys for fluffy interviews. Surprised we haven’t had umpteen add breaks to fill the quite silly amount of time they’ve allotted to the pre announcement. Save it for the dissection of who he’s selected.

AWJ being captain was more a given than it being Christmas Day on December 25th.
Comment posted by the_main_event, today at 12:56
Good to see Scotland getting good representation. Johnny Gray over Johnny Hill for me and Elliott Daily hasn't done enough to get on the plane. Other than that pretty decent
Comment posted by Kherosguns, today at 12:56
Elliot Daly really????
Reply posted by LH, today at 12:57
LH replied:
Yes really!
Comment posted by Mark, today at 12:45
Not Farrell - Ahhhhh
Comment posted by Ologist, today at 12:52
Johnny Hill FFS, anonymous in 6 Nations and completely outplayed by Ryan
Comment posted by McMurphy1, today at 12:48
No one came close to picking that squad.

And if you say you did, you're lying.

I'm completely underwhelmed.

Going to need to have a look at this on paper.
Reply posted by staylor, today at 13:05
staylor replied:
You would have preferred it to be totally predictable?
Comment posted by mushtaq elahi, today at 12:29
This wasn't announced yesterday? I thought we've already had a HYS on this.

1 for the speculation, 1 for the "announcement?" Lame.
Comment posted by Blott, today at 12:47
Sam Simmonds and Jack Conan, both aggressive and fast....

Chuffed for Tadgh Beirne, a real grafter and a nuisance
Comment posted by ModsFavourite, today at 12:30
Truly a father figure (grandfather in some cases).
Comment posted by Auntiebob, today at 12:56
Sweet Mary, Jesus and the wee donkey how does fazzer get the nod ahead of Jonny Sexton

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