Paul O'Connell of Young Munster, Munster and Ireland will captain the 2009 Lions. He is the 10th Irishman to skipper the Lions.
Ian McGeechan - Head Coach
Lee Byrne (Wales) - Fullback. A devastating runner and solid in defence with booming boot.
Rob Kearney (Ireland) - Fullback. Boasts sharp attacking instincts and strong kicking game.
Shane Williams (Wales) - Wing. Elusive Welsh winger was 2008 world player of the year.
Tommy Bowe (Ireland) - Wing. Offers pace, power, clinical finishing and versatility.
Ugo Moyne (England) - Wing. Combines extreme pace with power and commitment in defence.
Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland) - Wing. Scored three tries in Ireland's triumphant Grand Slam campaign.
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) - Wing. Searing pace and natural try-scoring instincts.
Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - Centre. Inspired Ireland to first Grand Slam triumph since 1948.
Keith Earls (Ireland) - Centre. The tour bolter brings electricity to the Lions back division.
Tom Shanklin (Wales) - Centre. WITHDRAWN DUE TO INJURY
Riki Flutey (England) - Centre. Will be the first to play both for and against the Lions.
Jamie Roberts (Wales) - Centre. Brings power and direct running to the midfield.
Stephen Jones (Wales) - Fly Half. Renowned for astute game-management and consistency.
Ronan O'Gara (Ireland) - Fly Half. Intelligent with bags of experience and a great kicking game.
Harry Ellis (England) - Scrum Half. Hard-working scrum-half who returned to form in Six Nations.
Mike Philips (Wales) - Scrum Half. Strapping scrum-half who will relish the physical duels.
Tomás O'Leary (Ireland) - Scrum Half. WITHDRAWN DUE TO INJURY
Mike Blair (Scotland) - Scrum Half. Replaced Tomás O'Leary
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland) - No 8. Lit up Six Nations with ball-carrying and eye for the tryline.
Andy Powell (Wales) - No 8. Direct and powerful number eight made Test breakthrough this year.
Stephen Ferris (Ireland) - Flanker. Hard-running, hard-tackling back row who came of age this season.
Martyn Williams (Wales) - Flanker. The gilt-edged 'Nugget' is a forager and a supreme link man.
Joe Worsley (England) - Flanker. Bone-crunching defence on England return earned him the call.
David Wallace (Ireland) - Flanker. Can play across the back row and a Test Lion in the making.
Alan Quinlan (Ireland) - Flanker. A tough character who will relish the rough stuff.
Paul O'Connell (Ireland) - Lock. Munster and Ireland's second-row totem leads by example.
Simon Shaw (England) - Lock. Impressive handling skills for a lock and immensely powerful.
Nathan Hines (Scotland) - Lock. His aggression and experience will be vital to face down the Boks.
Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland) - Lock. Practical joker off the field but a serious beast on it.
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) - Lock. Agile lineout operator and impressive all-round athlete.
Phil Vickery (England) - Prop. Veteran of the 2001 Lions will be a major influence on tour.
Gethin Jenkins (Wales) - Prop. Flies to South Africa as the first-choice loose-head prop.
Euan Murray (Scotland) - Prop. The tight-head is a favourite of scrum coach Graham Rowntree.
Andrew Sheridan (England) - Prop. Destructive on his day and improved during Six Nations.
Adam Jones (Wales) - Prop. Made huge strides for Wales working under Warren Gatland.
Jerry Flannery (Ireland) - Hooker. Precise at the lineout and dynamic force in the loose.
Matthew Rees (Wales) - Hooker. Industrious hooker but concerns over his lineout reliability.
Lee Mears (England) - Hooker. Impressive Six Nations and his line-out accuracy is vital.
Paddy 'Rala' O'Reilly (Ireland) - Baggage Master
Read Brendan Cole on Ireland's imports
