O'Driscoll to lead the Lions to NZ

Woodward selects his troops

Ireland star Brian O'Driscoll will captain the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. The honour was bestowed on the Leinster centre by Lions boss Sir Clive Woodward, who named his 44-man squad on Monday - a group that includes Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio but no Jonny Wilkinson.

Other notable absentees include Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall, but Woodward left the door ajar to all injured contenders providing they can prove themselves fit ahead of the tour.

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

"My thinking is it is better they try to do so with their clubs before becoming part of the Lions squad.

"At their very best and fully fit, all three would have made the squad. And their absence from today's list does not necessarily rule them out from the tour.

"I have spoken to the players, and they agree with this approach."

Amongst the 'fit' omissions are Chris Paterson, Colin Charvis, Jason White, Joe Worsley, Sean Lamont, Mark Cueto, Allister Hogg, Harry Ellis, Johnny O'Connor, Scott Murray and Marcus Horan.

The tour party comprises 20 Englishmen, 11 Irish, ten Welsh and just three Scottish - Chris Cusiter, Simon Taylor and Gordon Bulloch.

But Woodward has found room for a number of England fringe players, including Iain Balshaw, Ollie Smith, Andy Titterrell, Andrew Sheridan and Bath prop Matt Stevens.

The last time the Lions captaincy was bestowed on an Irishman was in 1983, and O'Driscoll will be hoping for a better return than Ciaran Fitzgerald who suffered a 4-0 whitewash in New Zealand.

Back becomes the oldest Lion ever to be chosen, overtaking the legendary Willie John McBride, who was 34 when he led the Lions on their victorious tour of South Africa in 1974.

2005 British and Irish Lions - tour party:

Backs: Iain Balshaw (England and Leeds), Geordan Murphy (Ireland and Leicester), Jason Robinson (England and Sale Sharks), Gareth Thomas (Wales and Toulouse), Shane Williams (Wales and Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Josh Lewsey (England and Wasps), Shane Horgan (Ireland and Leinster), Denis Hickie (Ireland and Leinster), Tom Shanklin (Wales and Cardiff Blues), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland and Leinster, captain), Gavin Henson (Wales and Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Ollie Smith (England and Leicester), Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland and Leinster), Will Greenwood (England and Harlequins), Stephen Jones (Wales and Clermont Auvergne), Ronan O'Gara (Ireland and Munster), Charlie Hodgson (England and Sale Sharks), Matt Dawson (England and Wasps), Dwayne Peel (Wales and Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons), Chris Cusiter (Scotland and Borders).

Forwards: Graham Rowntree (England and Leicester), Andrew Sheridan (England and Sale Sharks), Matt Stevens (England and Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Wales and Cardiff Blues), Julian White (England and Leicester), John Hayes (Ireland and Munster), Gordon Bulloch (Scotland and Glasgow), Steve Thompson (England and Northampton), Andy Titterrell (England and Sale Sharks), Shane Byrne (Ireland and Leinster), Danny Grewcock (England and Bath), Ben Kay (England and Leicester), Malcolm O'Kelly (Ireland and Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland and Munster), Paul O'Connell (Ireland and Munster), Michael Owen (Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons), Richard Hill (England and Saracens), Neil Back (England and Leicester), Martyn Williams (Wales and Cardiff Blues), Lewis Moody (England and Leicester), Simon Taylor (Scotland and Edinburgh), Martin Corry (England and Leicester), Lawrence Dallaglio (England and Wasps).

2005 British and Irish Lions - tour dates:
(All tour matches kick off at 19:10 - 08:10 BST)

May 23: Lions v Argentina - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (19:45 BST)
May 24: Lions depart for New Zealand
June 4: Bay of Plenty - Rotorua International Stadium,
June 8: Taranaki - Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
June 11: NZ Maori - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
June 15: Wellington - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
June 18: Otago - Carisbrook, Dunedin
June 21: Southland - Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
June 25: FIRST TEST - Jade Stadium, Christchurch
June 28: Manawatu - Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
July 2: SECOND TEST - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
July 5: Auckland - Eden Park, Auckland
July 9: THIRD TEST - Eden Park, Auckland