21 from PRO12 in Lions squad

A total of 21 players from the Guinness PRO12 have been selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand this summer.

It marks the third tour in succession that the Championship has provided the most squad members in the original party for the Lions following on from a tally of 27 in 2009 and 24 in 2013.

In total seven clubs from the 10 teams who represent Ireland, Scotland and Wales have received call-ups: Leinster Rugby (5); Ospreys Rugby (4); Munster Rugby (3); Scarlets (3); Ulster Rugby (3); Glasgow Warriors (2); Cardiff Blues (1).

Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues) has been chosen as captain for the second tour in succession which means that the last four British & Irish Lions tours have been led by a captain from a team in the Championship (Paul O'Connell, '09 & Brian O'Driscoll, '05).

Below you will find selected Opta statistics for the four Ospreys players chosen for the tour:

Dan Biggar

• 33 Carries
• 3 Clean Breaks
• 52 Tackles
• 3 Turnovers Won
• 2 Offloads

Rhys Webb

• 255 Metres
• 9 Clean Breaks
• 4 Try Assists
• 51 Tackles
• 3 Turnovers Won

Alun Wyn Jones

• 64 Carries
• 10 Offloads
• 64 Tackles
• 3 Turnovers Won
• 4 Lineout Steals

Justin Tipuric

• 85 Carries
• 7 Breaks
• 10 Offloads
• 142 Tackles (2 missed)
• 14 Turnovers



Opta statistics for the remaining PRO12 representatives

BACKS


Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)

• 302 Metres
• 12 Defenders Beaten
• 6 Offloads
• 43 Tackles
• 3 Turnovers Won

Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby)

• 10 Offloads
• 11 Defenders Beaten
• 5 Turnovers Won
• 95% Tackle Success
• 40 Carries

Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)

• 4 Tries
• 584 Metres
• 9 Clean Breaks
• 16 Defenders Beaten
• 5 Try Assists

Conor Murray
(Munster Rugby)

• 5.2m Avg Gain per game
• 2 Try Assists
• 2 Turnovers Won
• 6 Clean Breaks
• 168 Metres

Jared Payne (Ulster Rugby)

• 3 Tries
• 453 Metres
• 4 Try Assists
• 11 Offloads
• 9 Clean Breaks

Jonathan Sexton (Leinster Rugby)

• 3 Try Assists
• 90% Goal Kicking success
• 1 Try
• 18 Tackles
• 23 Carries

Tommy Seymour
(Glasgow Warriors)

• 8 Tries
• 634 Metres
• 20 Clean Breaks
• 29 Defenders Beaten
• 3 Try Assists

Liam Williams (Scarlets)

• 109 Carries
• 793 Metres
• 8 Clean Breaks
• 9 Offloads
• 6 Turnovers Won

FORWARDS

Rory Best (Ulster Rugby)

• 44 Carries
• 55 Tackles
• 94% Tackle Success
• 3 Turnovers Won
• 87% Throw Success

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby)

• 54 Tackles
• 100% Tackle Success
• 23 Carries
• 2 Offloads
• 2 Turnovers Won

Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby)

• 99 Carries
• 133 Metres
• 6 Offloads
• 73 Tackles
• 12 Turnovers Won

Jack McGrath (Leinster Rugby)

• 26 Carries
• 66 Metres
• 2 Clean Breaks
• 50 Tackles
• 2 Turnovers Won

Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby)

• 37 Carries
• 129 Metres
• 3 Offloads
• 22 Tackles
• 3 Turnovers Won

Peter O’Mahony (Munster Rugby)

• 83 Metres
• 43 Carries
• 55 Tackles
• 6 Steals
• 4 Defenders Beaten

Ken Owens (Scarlets)

• 58 Carries
• 89 Tackles
• 6 Turnovers Won
• 92% Throw Success
• 67 Metres

CJ Stander (Munster Rugby)

• 111 Carries
• 305 Metres
• 3 Clean Breaks
• 8 Offloads
• 4 Turnovers

Sam Warburton
(Cardiff Blues)

• 35 Carries
• 50 Metres
• 67 Tackles
• 4 Turnovers Won
• 12 Lineouts Won