Andy Farrell names 15 Irish players in British and Irish Lions squad

Andy Farrell has named 15 Irish players in the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour to Australia.

Nine Ireland forwards and six backs were called up, 12 from Leinster, two from Connacht and one from Munster.

The previous record was 14 Irish players called up for the tour of South Africa in 2009.

England second-row Maro Itoje was named as captain, with Ireland captain Caelan Doris missing out through injury.

Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, and Tadhg Furlong are included in the front row, in what will be a third tour for Furlong.

Tadhg Beirne will be on his second tour and will be joined by James Ryan and Joe McCarthy.

It will be a first tour for Josh Van Der Flier, while Jack Conan will bag himself to be the starting number eight.

At scrum-half, Jamison Gibson Park is included, but will not be joined at fly-half by Sam Prendergast, who misses out.

In the centre, Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki are included, but Robbie Henshaw is missing out.

On the wing, both James Lowe and Mack Hansen are included, with full-back Hugo Keenan also making the squad.

The squad features 26 first time tourists, while nine players will participate in their second Lions Tour. Tadhg Furlong and Elliot Daly have also been selected for a third Lions Tour.

Northampton Saints back row Henry Pollock is the youngest member of the touring party at just 20 years of age.

Forwards: (21)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England)
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #848
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster