Lions squad: Alun Wyn Jones named captain, eight Irish make tour but no place for Sexton

Jones, at 35, the oldest Lions captain of the professional era

Ireland's Johnny Sexton has been overlooked by Warren Gatland. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Eight Irishmen have been named in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer with Connacht centre Bundee Aki one of the big surprise inclusion. Yet there were no places in Warren Gatland’s touring party to take on the world champion Springboks for fly-half and Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, lock James Ryan and centre Garry Ringrose.

As expected, Ireland stars Conor Murray, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, and Robbie Henshaw were named on Thursday for a return to Lions colours. All four toured New Zealand four years ago with Murray and Furlong Test starters in the drawn series with the All Blacks. This will be scrum-half Murray’s third tour and he will be joined by Munster team-mate Tadhg Beirne, a first-time selection alongside Leinster prop Andrew Porter, and back row Jack Conan.