Three Scots named in Lions squad

Glasgow wing Maitland, 24, has been fast-tracked into the Lions squad after moving from New Zealand this season and making his Scotland debut in the Six Nations.

Maitland qualifies for Scotland through his Glaswegian grand-parents, who emigrated to New Zealand in the 1960s and he has seen off the Ireland wing Simon Zebo, who was strongly fancied to make Gatland's final cut.

Gray is set to join French club Castres following his departure from Sale Sharks, which was confirmed yesterday.

However, there was no place for their Six Nations captain Kelly Brown in a highly-competitive back row area.

Wales star Sam Warburton has been named as the Lion’s captain for the tour.

There are no places among the 37-man squad announced by Lions manager Andy Irvine in London today for England skipper Chris Robshaw or 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson.

But head coach Warren Gatland handed surprise call-ups to England prop Mako Vunipola and 2005 Lions tourist Matt Stevens.

Cardiff Blues flanker Warburton, at 24 the youngest Welsh Lions captain in history, will lead a squad comprising 14 of his compatriots.

Warburton led Wales to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals - Wales' best performance for 24 years - and a Six Nations Grand Slam five months later.

After being injured for the opening part of this season's Six Nations, he returned to deliver a man of the match display against Scotland and then starred when Wales inflicted a record 30-3 defeat on England to win the title.

While Wales are celebrating their largest Lions contingent since 16 players travelled to New Zealand 36 years ago, England provide 10 members of Gatland's squad, one more than in South Africa four years ago.

Stevens, who missed the 2009 tour while serving a two-year drugs ban, retired from England duty after the 2011 Rugby World Cup but has been included as one of three tight-head options.

There are nine Irishmen in the travelling squad but there was no place for Ulster hooker Rory Best, with England's Dylan Hartley and Tom Youngs selected along with Wales' Richard Hibbard.

Warburton admitted he had known about the news for some time, saying: "Warren gave me a call, it's been nine or 10 days since I found out and the biggest secret I've had to keep.

"It's unbelievable, an accolade very few people achieve and it's an unbelievable honour."

Gatland said: "In the last two or three years he's been the most successful captain in the northern hemisphere.

"I have a huge amount of respect for Sam, he's an absolute professional and he leads from the front."

Gatland admitted it had been tough to leave out the likes of Robshaw and Wilkinson.

"There was a robust debate about the squad and there were healthy discussions for every position," he said.

"Some real quality players have missed out. We had a thorough process and it's been tough."

He did offer hope to those left out, however, saying: "If you look at previous tours six to eight players get injured and there will be a group of back-up players who can be called upon."

Much of Gatland's squad was as expected, spearheaded by the likes of Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll, who is on his fourth successive Lions tour, 2009 captain Paul O'Connell and Wales prop Adam Jones.

But there are also opportunities for a new generation of Lions, players such as Wales trio George North, Alex Cuthbert and Justin Tipuric, England pair Manu Tuilagi and Owen Farrell and Ireland prop Cian Healy.

Gatland's squad is split into 16 backs and 21 forwards and four weeks today the party will leave for Hong Kong where they open the 10-match tour against the Barbarians on June 1.

The Lions then head to Australia with the first of three Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane on June 22.

Robshaw becomes the third England captain of the professional era to be overlooked by the Lions, following Phil de Glanville in 1997 and Steve Borthwick four years ago.

It is particularly rough justice on the Harlequins flanker who led England to within one win of the Six Nations title and the Grand Slam this season.

Other notable absentees from the England fold include Tom Wood, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan and Danny Care.Wales, though, will send to Australia 14 of the starting line-up that accounted for England just over six weeks ago. The exception is Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar.Flanker Dan Lydiate has received the nod from Gatland despite being in the early stages of his comeback from a serious ankle injury he suffered playing for Newport Gwent Dragons last September.

Lydiate, the 2012 Six Nations player of the tournament, missed Wales' entire autumn Test series and this year's championship, but Gatland knows full well his capabilities.

Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip had been among those who it was thought was under pressure for a place but he now looks destined to contest the Test number eight jersey with Wales' Toby Faletau.

Meanwhile, former England and Lions fly-half Stuart Barnes has criticised Warren Gatland's decision to omit England captain Chris Robshaw and Jonny Wilkinson from his squad to tour Australia.

Harlequins flanker Robshaw and Toulon fly-half Wilkinson were among the most notable absentees from Gatland's 37-man selection.

Wilkinson was widely expected to miss out due to his club commitments with Toulon.

The French club are firmly in contention to win the Top 14, the final of which takes place on June 1, the same day as the Lions begin their tour against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.

Robshaw is particularly unfortunate to miss out having led England with some aplomb during the rebuilding phase that followed a woeful 2011 World Cup.

But a victory over the All Blacks and four wins from five in the Six Nations have not been enough.

Barnes believes Robshaw is the "unluckiest man in Britain and Ireland", and would have taken the Quins forward ahead of Wales' Justin Tipuric.

He told Sky Sports News: "Robshaw has had a wonderful season, but he has looked tired since the Wales game, he has looked tired, he has looked like a ghost of his former self.

"But I think he could do a job at seven, or he could do a job at six. But there has been a lot of negative media about him, people have never been certain about Chris Robshaw and I think he is paying the price for that.

"I personally think Tipuric is a little lucky to go. He is a headline number seven, he does some great things and in time he is going to be wonderful, but is he really that much better than Chris Robshaw over the ball? Does he have that experience?

"I think the answer is no on both of those counts and Robshaw is unlucky to miss out."

He added: "If you ask me who is the unluckiest person in Britain and Ireland, I would say Chris Robshaw."

Gatland had made it clear his preference was for the tour party to depart together, with no late arrivals in Australia, and Wilkinson had himself played down his own chances of being involved.

But Wilkinson's stunning performances in Toulon's run to the Heineken Cup final, including a man-of-the-match display opposite Saracens' Owen Farrell - who made the squad - on Sunday.

Barnes said: "We need to know whether Wilkinson is available or not.

"If Wilkinson was available to join the party after the French final - if Toulon get there - then I find it utterly mystifying.

Jonathan Sexton is going to be the Lions Test fly-half barring accidents, the next fly-half's job will be to close out a game and Wilkinson is the best in the world at doing it.

"Yes he has weaknesses but they are the same as Owen Farrell's and his strengths are stronger that Owen Farrell's.

"So if Wilkinson was available I find it disappointing, and if it is 1-1 going into the Third Test and the Lions miss out because they cannot drop a goal or kick a 50-metre penalty then this will be the selection we are talking about in years to come."

Among the unexpected selections in the party was Glasgow and Scotland wing Sean Maitland.

The 24-year-old New Zealand-born three-quarter only came over to Britain at the start of the season and his Scottish grandparents meant he was eligible to make his Scotland debut against England at the start of the Six Nations, where he scored an early try.

Maitland told Sky Sports News: "I'm pretty speechless, I am over the moon, words can't describe what I'm feeling at the moment. The squad went live, I was watching it with the Glasgow boys in the changing room and that's when I found out.

"It's been a rollercoaster for me, coming over here to try and achieve new goals.

"Playing for Scotland was a very proud moment and in a Lions year it has worked out well for me, but the hard work begins now."

Maitland is also the cousin of Australia fly-half Quade Cooper, and would relish the chance to lock horns if the Reds playmaker is included in the Wallaby squad.

He said: "We could talk about a rivalry that started at the age of five when he beat me in a long-distance race. He's had the wood over me in a few recent battles so hopefully we can get one over him."

Gatland's squad is made up of 15 Welsh players, 10 from England, nine from Ireland and three from Scotland.

England's representation equals the number who appeared on the 2009 tour of South Africa, and head coach Stuart Lancaster congratulated those selected.

He said: "Being selected by the British & Irish Lions is a major honour and I know the England players named in the squad today will do the jersey proud.

"I'm sure they will contribute a great deal to the tour and coming into a new environment with the best players from Ireland, Scotland and Wales will only enhance their development as players and people.

"Taking on Australia away from home in three Tests is a great challenge but one I know they will relish. Everyone involved in England Rugby will be cheering them on."

Sam Warburton was - as widely expected - named as the squad captain.

The Cardiff Blues flanker is the youngest Welshman to lead a Lions touring party, and the first since Phil Bennett skippered the 1977 trip to New Zealand.

The 24-year-old has not enjoyed his best season, but proved his credentials by captaining Wales to the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup.

Warburton also led Wales Down Under last summer, where they suffered a 3-0 Test series defeat.

But he believes the cream of British and Irish rugby can overcome the Wallabies and give the Lions a first series win since 1997.

He told Sky Sports News: "I have found Australia a very tough place to go.

"If you look at the class of the players that will be added from the other three countries and a Welsh team that came very close last year, I think that will be enough to make it a victorious test series which we want to achieve."

Of Robshaw's omission, he added: "The back row was always going to be a talking point and some big players have been left out.

"Warren alluded to it earlier, that you usually get about six injuries so I'm sure someone will be involved in that tour who is not involved now.

"He could have picked between 10 or 12 players and there are still some that are injured so the competition is immense."

The 37-man British and Irish Lions squad selected by head coach Warren Gatland for the tour of Hong Kong and Australia are: L Halfpenny, S Hogg, R Kearney, G North, A Cuthbert, T Bowe, S Maitland, B O'Driscoll, M Tuilagi, J Roberts, J Davies, J Sexton, O Farrell, C Murray, M Phillips, B Youngs, G Jenkins, C Healy, M Vunipola, A Jones, D Cole, M Stevens, D Hartley, R Hibbard, T Youngs, I Evans, R Gray, AW Jones, P O'Connell, G Parling, T Croft, T Faletau, J Heaslip, D Lydiate, S O'Brien, J Tipuric, S Warburton (capt).

2013 British and Irish Lions Tour Fixtures (all kick-offs BST):

Saturday, June 1: Barbarians (Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong) 1230.

Wednesday, June 5: Western Force (Patersons Stadium, Perth) 1100.

Saturday, June 8: Queensland Reds (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) 1030.

Tuesday, June 11: Combined New South Wales-Queensland Country (Hunter Stadium, Newcastle) 1030.

Saturday, June 15: NSW Waratahs (Allianz Stadium, Sydney) 1030.

Tuesday, June 18: ACT Brumbies (Canberra Stadium, Canberra) 1030.

Saturday, June 22: Australia, first Test (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) 1100.

Tuesday, June 25: Melbourne Rebels (AAMI Park, Melbourne) 1030.

Saturday, June 29: Australia, second Test (Etihad Stadium, Melbourne) 1100.

Saturday, July 6: Australia, third Test (ANZ Stadium, Sydney) 1100.