12 from Leinster, two from Wales - the Lions squad in numbers

On nan Lions' past travel to Australia backmost successful 2013, caput coach Warren Gatland picked 15 Wales players successful his first squad. By nan decisive 3rd Test, he had 10 Welshmen successful his starting XV.

A small complete a decade on, things are markedly different.

After 17 defeats connected nan spin, Welsh practice is provided by only 2 players: flanker Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams.

It is nan lowest number of Welshmen picked for a Lions squad successful nan modern era.

However, Wales tin return comfortableness from nan waxing and waning of different nations' fortunes.

In 2017, conscionable 2 Scotland players - Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg - were picked successful nan first squad. Now, they tin boast 8 successful nan 2025 squad.

Similarly Ireland had only 2 players successful nan 1993 squad selected to circuit New Zealand and 4 for nan 1997 travel to South Africa.

In this newest squad, they supply nan astir players - pinch Andy Farrell opting for 15 of those he coaches successful his accustomed domiciled arsenic Ireland caput coach.

There person been importantly much lopsided squads successful nan past.

In 2005, Sir Clive Woodward opted for 20 players from nan England set-up pinch which he had won nan Rugby World Cup 2 years earlier, including luring Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back retired of world retirement.

Twenty years connected nan squad is lighter successful acquisition pinch 26 first-time tourists.

Nine players are connected their 2nd circuit while skipper Maro Itoje, his England and Saracens' team-mate Elliot Daly and Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong are pulling connected nan celebrated garment for a 3rd trip.

At nine level, Leinster supply 12 players - astir a 4th of nan squad - and it could person been more.

Fly-half Sam Prendergast was powerfully fancied to spell connected nan tour, but Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith were preferred astatine 10.

Ryan Baird, Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw were besides outsiders for inclusion.

Glasgow Warriors and Northampton, champions of past season's United Rugby Championship and Premiership respectively, proviso 4 players each, while skipper Itoje is joined by Saracens team-mates Ben Earl and Daly.

There are 15 clubs represented successful nan 38-strong squad, including 8 of nan 10 Premiership teams, 3 of nan 4 Irish provinces and some Scottish master sides.

Blair Kinghorn, who plays for French broadside Toulouse, is nan only subordinate who plays their nine rugby extracurricular Britain and Ireland.

There is much than conscionable pridefulness astatine liking for those home nine sides. They, for illustration nan players, are portion of a newly-minted profit sharing statement pinch nan Lions. The much players they person connected tour, they larger nan salary cheque astatine nan end.

It has been estimated , externalthat Leinster's patient twelve will gain their nine successful excess of £1m.