Months, if not years of speculation has finally come to an end as Lions head coach Warren Gatland announced the 37 strong Lions squad to head to Australia via Hong Kong in a month's time.
Sam Warburton, the man that seems to command so much respect from Gatland, has been given the nod as tour captain.
In all, the squad break down into 16 backs and 21 forwards, with 15 Welshmen, 10 English, 9 Irish and 3 Scots making up the total.
Sam Warburton is chosen as Lions captain for the upcoming
tour to Hong Kong and Australia
So where are the surprises, who's lucky to be in or unlucky to be left out, and what will the starting 15 look like?
Front Row
The selection of players for the front row makes for interesting reading. It is dominated by the English and Welsh, with 5 Englishmen being included. Notable exclusions include Ulsterman hooker Rory Best and Scots prop Ryan Grant, one of the top scrummagers and tacklers in this year's 6 Nations tournament. In their place, England's Tom Youngs and impact substitute Mako Vunipola have been included.
Both Best and Grant can consider themselves unlucky following strong showing recently for their countries. Both play for teams riding high in the RaboDirect Pro 12 league in Ulster and Glasgow and have been consistent for both throughout. Tom Youngs has a lot to prove yet at international level and I see his inclusion in particular as a bit of a risk. I don't see him getting a spot in the test 22.
Second Row
This is arguably the strongest selection of any part of the squad, full of talismanic men both in stature and influence. Despite a mediocre 6 Nations tournament and on/off form for Sale, Richie Gray makes the squad. His inclusion has been looking less likely as time goes on. Following the 2012 6 Nations, he was most people must take.
Richie Gray is one of only three Scots included
Compatriots Jim Hamilton and Nathan Hines are perhaps a little unlucky not to be considered, thought the latter has retired from playing for Scotland the last couple of seasons. Elsewhere, the inclusions are fairly predictable, with the returning Paul O'Connell, captain in 2009, and Geoff Parling understandably booking seats on the plane. Welsh duo of Jones and Evans have also rightfully earned their place.
Back Row
There were always going to be quality players disappointed for not being included, such is the ferocity of competition in the back row. Both Kelly Brown and Chris Robshaw, captains of Scotland and England respectively, have received the phone call with bad news from Gatland. Instead, Tom Croft, returning from a long term injury earlier this year is in, probably to add options at the lineout. The four Welshmen of the apocalypse, Warburton, Lydiate, Tipuric and Faletau are all in, supported by Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien.
Half Backs
The only real surprise sprung by Gatland here is the inclusion of only 2 out-and-out fly halves in Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell, both of whom have been shoo-ins for a number of months. There's no space for Toby Flood or even Greig Laidlaw, who can be switched between 9 and 10. Instead, Gatland has proposed that Scottish full back Stuart Hogg will be the 3rd option at number 10 should Sexton or Farrell pick up knocks.
Both Mike Phillips and Connor Murray are included, and it'll be between these two for the starting number 9 jersey. Both are big and physical and with Sexton the likely starting 10, Gatland must decide whether his link man needs to be more familiar with an Irish 10 or a predominantly Welsh back row.
Centres
No real surprises here as the usual suspects all find themselves included. Lions veterans Jamie Roberts, voted man of the series in 2009, and Brian O'Driscoll are on the plane, ably supported by Lions freshmen Manu Tuilagi and Jonathan Davies.
There are only 4, but there is enough flexibility within the selection for the back 3 to suggest some could slot in at 13 (Hogg and North) if required.
Back Three
A fine combination of power and guile in this selection. Flying behemoths George North and Alex Cuthbert are likely starters, with Leigh Halfpenny probably Gatland's first name on the team sheet. However, given the buzz and clear delight from Rob Howley and other coaching staff about Stuart Hogg's inclusion, I have a sneaky feeling Hogg will be given the 15 slot, and Halfpenny the right wing in place of Cuthbert. Hogg's counter attacking style may just be the key to opening up a game on the hard turf of Oz.
The versatile Stuart Hogg could be a key player in Australia
Elsewhere, 2009 Lion Tommy Bowe is back in the selection along with Rob Kearney who enjoyed a fine tour in 2009. Newcomer Sean Maitland is perhaps the surprise inclusion, though very welcome from a Scottish perspective.
Starting XV
Here's my starting line up for the first test, all based on everyone selected to tour being fit and healthy:
1. Cian Healy
2. Richard Hibbard
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Geoff Parling
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton (c)
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Mike Phillips
10. Johnny Sexton
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. Stuart Hogg
The Full Lions Squad:
Forwards
Dan Cole (Eng)
Cian Healy (Ire)
Gethin Jenkins (Wal)
Adam Jones (Wal)
Matt Stevens (Eng)
Mako Vunipola (Eng)
Dylan Hartley (Eng)
Richard Hibbard (Wal)
Tom Youngs (Eng)
Ian Evans (Wales)
Richie Gray (Sco)
Alun Wyn Jones (Wal)
Paul O'Connell (Ire)
Geoff Parling (Eng)
Tom Croft (Eng)
Toby Faletau (Wal)
Jamie Heaslip (Ire)
Dan Lydiate (Wal)
Sean O'Brien (Ire)
Justin Tipuric (Wal)
Sam Warburton (c) (Wal)
Backs
Leigh Halfpenny (Wal)
Stuart Hogg (Sco)
Rob Kearney (Ire)
Tommy Bowe (Ire)
Alex Cuthbert (Wal)
Sean Maitland (Sco)
George North (Wal)
Jonathan Davies (Wal)
Brian O'Driscoll (Ire)
Jamie Roberts (Wal)
Manu Tuilagi (Eng)
Owen Farrell (Eng)
Jonathan Sexton (Ire)
Connor Murray (Ire)
Mike Phillips (Wal)
Ben Youngs (Eng)
