Earls among four Irish players in first Lions team

Paul O'Connell will lead the British & Irish Lions into their opening match of the 2009 tour of South Africa against the Royal XV in Phokeng, near Rustenburg, on Saturday.

Thu, 28 May, 2009 - 12:30

Paul O'Connell will lead the British & Irish Lions into their opening match of the 2009 tour of South Africa against the Royal XV in Phokeng, near Rustenburg, on Saturday.

Ireland's Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls and Ronan O'Gara will join their captain in what is a side comprising 14 players who are on their first British & Irish Lions tour.

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CourtsRugbyLions 2009Place: South AfricaPlace: PhokengPlace: RustenburgPlace: PotchefstroomPlace: ScotlandPerson: EarlsPerson: Paul O'ConnellPerson: Tommy BowePerson: Keith EarlsPerson: Ronan O'GaraPerson: Ian McGeechanPerson: Jamie RobertsPerson: ByrnePerson: BowePerson: Shane WilliamsPerson: Lee ByrnePerson: Mike BlairPerson: Andy PowellPerson: Martyn WilliamsPerson: Joe WorsleyPerson: Simon ShawPerson: Adam JonesPerson: Matthew ReesPerson: Andrew SheridanPerson: Lee MearsPerson: Phil VickeryPerson: Alun-Wyn JonesPerson: Stephen FerrisPerson: Mike PhillipsPerson: Stephen JonesPerson: Riki FluteyOrganisation: LionsOrganisation: British & Irish LionsOrganisation: Royal XVOrganisation: British &Organisation: Western TransvaalOrganisation: Ospreys'Organisation: OspreysOrganisation: WalesOrganisation: IrelandOrganisation: MunsterOrganisation: Cardiff BluesOrganisation: London WaspsOrganisation: EnglandOrganisation: ScarletsOrganisation: Sales SharksOrganisation: BathOrganisation: Ulster
<p>BLOW: Ulster captain Iain Henderson pensive after being shown a red card against the Stormers at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile</p>

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Donal Lenihan
Donal Lenihan

Inside rugby

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