11 Irish in Lions squad

Brian O'Driscoll has been confirmed as captain of the Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer, with 11 Irish players included but no place for England's Jonny Wilkinson.

Jonny Wilkinson has been left out of Clive Woodward’s 44-man Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer – but he could still face the All Blacks.

The squad features 20 Englishmen, 11 Irish, 10 Welsh and just three Scottish.

But Woodward has left the door open for Wilkinson, stating the England World Cup hero could still travel if he regains full fitness.

Centre Mike Tindall (foot) and prop Phil Vickery (broken arm) are in in an identical position to Wilkinson.

"If they confirm genuine form and fitness in the coming weeks, they could still go," said Woodward.

As expected, Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll has been appointed captain, and there are places for England World Cup stalwarts Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill.

Leicester flanker Back, now aged 36, becomes the oldest player in Lions history selected for an original tour squad.

O’Driscoll heads a strong Irish contingent, while RBS 6 Nations champions Wales have 10 Lions, but struggling Scotland are confined to scrum-half Chris Cusiter, hooker Gordon Bulloch and back-row forward Simon Taylor.

The Lions leave for New Zealand on May 25, with the first Test against New Zealand scheduled for Christchurch a month later.

British and Irish Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer:

Backs: I Balshaw (England and Leeds), G Murphy (Ireland and Leinster), J Robinson (England and Sale Sharks), G Thomas (Wales and Toulouse), S Williams (Wales and Neath-Swansea Ospreys), J Lewsey (England and Wasps), S Horgan (Ireland and Leinster), D Hickie (Ireland and Leinster), T Shanklin (Wales and Cardiff Blues), B O’Driscoll (Ireland and Leinster, capt), G Henson (Wales and Neath-Swansea Ospreys), O Smith (England and Leicester), G D’Arcy (Ireland and Leinster), W Greenwood (England and Harlequins), S Jones (Wales and Clermont Auvergne), R O’Gara (Ireland and Munster), C Hodgson (England and Sale Sharks), M Dawson (England and Wasps), D Peel (Wales and Llanelli Scarlets), G Cooper (Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons), C Cusiter (Scotland and Borders).

Forwards: G Rowntree (England and Leicester), A Sheridan (England and Sale Sharks), M Stevens (England and Bath), G Jenkins (Wales and Cardiff Blues), J White (England and Leicester), J Hayes (Ireland and Munster), G Bulloch (Scotland and Glasgow), S Thompson (England and Northampton), A Titterrell (England and Sale Sharks), S Byrne (Ireland and Leinster), D Grewcock (England and Bath), B Kay (England and Leicester), M O’Kelly (Ireland and Leinster), D O’Callaghan (Ireland and Munster), P O’Connell (Ireland and Munster), M Owen (Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons), R Hill (England and Saracens), N Back (England and Leicester), M Williams (Wales and Cardiff Blues), L Moody (England and Leicester), S Taylor (Scotland and Edinburgh), M Corry (England and Leicester), L Dallaglio (England and Wasps).