Lions Tour: Lions draw up ‘provisional’ squad list

British and Irish Lions chiefs have drawn up a provisional list of 67 players who have been asked to confirm their availability for this summer’s tour to Australia.

But Lions tour manager Donal Lenihan insisted that players not named to take on the world champions in their own backyard should not be too concerned at this stage as the selection process was still on-going.

‘‘The main purpose of the publication of the initial list is to ensure that players have an opportunity to examine the tour contract.

‘‘This is by no means the definitive list of players being considered, the process of selection is never exhausted.’’

The list consists of 37 forwards and 30 backs with Englishmen enjoying the lions’ share of places with 22. Eighteen Welshmen are named, 15 Irishmen and 12 Scots.

Forwards: N Back (England), N Budgett (Wales), G Bulloch (Scotland), C Charvis (Wales), P Clohessy (Ireland), M Corry (England), L Dallaglio (England), J Davidson (Ireland), K Dawson (Ireland), I Gough (Wales), P Greening (England), D Grewcock (England), S Grimes (Scotland), J Hayes (Ireland), R Hill (England), M Johnson (England), J Leonard (England), M Leslie (Scotland), G Lewis (Wales), R McBryde (Wales), E Miller (Ireland), D Morris (Wales), S Murray (Scotland), M O’Kelly (Ireland), B Pountney (Scotland), S Quinnell (Wales), M Regan (England), P Rogers (Wales), T Smith (Scotland), S Taylor (Scotland), P Vickery (England), D Wallace (Ireland), D West (England), J White (England), M Williams (Wales), K Wood (Ireland), D Young (Wales).

BACKS: I Balshaw (England), A Bateman (Wales), K Bracken (England), M Catt (England), B Cohen (England), G Cooper (Wales), M Dawson (England), S Gibbs( Wales), W Greenwood (England), A Healey (England), R Henderson (Ireland), D Hickie (Ireland), S Horgan (Ireland), T Howe (Ireland), R Howley (Wales), D James (Wales), N Jenkins (Wales), J Leslie (Scotland), D Luger (England), G Metcalfe (Scotland), C Murray (Scotland), B O’Driscoll (Ireland), R O’Gara (Ireland), C Paterson (Scotland), M Perry (England), P Stringer (Ireland), M Taylor (Wales), G Thomas (Wales), G Townsend (Scotland), J Wilkinson (England).

Lions itinerary for 2001 tour to Australia

June 1: Depart, Heathrow

June 8: v Western Australia, WACA, Perth

June 12: v Queensland President’s XV, Townsville

June 16: v Queensland Reds, Brisbane

June 19: v Australia A, Gosford

June 23: v NSW Waratahs, Sydney

June 26: v NSW County, Coffs Harbour

June 30: First Test v Australia, Gabba, Brisbane

July 3: v ACT Brumbies, Canberra

July 7: Second Test v Australia, Melbourne

July 14: Third Test v Australia, Sydney