Head coach Warren Gatland has announced a squad of 37-players to face the reigning world champions with Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones chosen as captain. 

England captain Owen Farrell and prop Mako Vunipola have been selected for their third Lions tour, with Elliot Daly, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes and Anthony Watson called-up for a second time. Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds will go on their first tour with the Lions.

This will be Gatland’s third tour in charge of the Lions having drawn the 2017 series in New Zealand and won the 2013 tour in Australia 2-1. The Lions last toured South Africa in 2009 where they lost the series 2-1. 

"Now as we get closer, we're really excited about the final preparations and planning and really looking forward to getting down to South Africa," said Gatland.

"To then be involved as a Lions coach is incredibly rewarding and exciting. It's something unique and special in the rugby world.

"In all my time in coaching this is the most challenging squad I've ever been involved in picking. It is trying to get the balance. At the end of the day, selection is just a matter of opinion and we've got to try and put the best squad together.

"We are trying to put a squad together that we think can go down there and win the series.

“The sea of red and the fans that travel are unique about the Lions and I think you can’t imagine a tour without the fans but we have to do that. We know the amount of support we’ll get back in the UK and Ireland."