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Player profiles for Ian McGeechan's 2009 British & Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa.

BACKS

Lee Byrne (pictured) (Wales & Ospreys)

A devastating runner and solid in defence with booming boot.

Age: 28. Position: Full-back. Height: 6ft 3in. Weight: 15st 4lb. Wales caps: 22. Lions Test caps: 0

Rob Kearney (Ireland & Leinster)

Boasts sharp attacking instincts and strong kicking game.

Age: 23. Position: Wing. Height: 6ft 1in. Weight: 14st 2lb. Ireland caps: 11. Lions Test caps: 0

Leigh Halfpenny (Wales & Cardiff Blues)

Searing pace and natural try-scoring instincts.

Age: 20. Position: Wing. Height: 5ft 10in. Weight: 13st 1lb. Wales caps: 3. Lions Test caps: 0

Ugo Monye (England & Harlequins)

Combines extreme pace with power and commitment in defence.

Age: 26. Position: Wing. Height: 6ft 2in. Weight: 14st 3lb. England caps: 4. Lions Test caps: 0

Tommy Bowe (Ireland & Ospreys)

Offers pace, power, clinical finishing and versatility.

Age: 25. Position: Wing. Height: 6ft 3in. Weight: 15st 2lb. Ireland caps: 18. Lions Test caps: 0

Shane Williams (Wales & Ospreys)

Elusive Welsh winger was 2008 world player of the year.

Age: 32. Position: Wing. Height: 5ft 7in. Weight: 12st 13lb. Wales caps: 61. Lions Test caps: 5

Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland & Leinster)

Scored three tries in Ireland's triumphant Grand Slam campaign.

Age: 22. Position: Centre. Height: 6ft 1in. Weight: 13st 7lb. Ireland caps: 7. Lions Test caps: 0

Keith Earls (Ireland & Munster)

The tour bolter brings electricity to the Lions back division.

Age: 21. Position: Centre. Height: 5ft 11in. Weight: 14st 2lb. Ireland caps: 2. Lions Test caps. 0

Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland & Leinster)

Inspired Ireland to first Grand Slam triumph since 1948.

Age: 30. Position: Centre. Height: 5ft 9in. Weight: 15st 0lb. Ireland caps: 88. Lions Test caps: 10

Tom Shanklin (Wales & Cardiff Blues)

One of Wales' key men whose role is often underrated.

Age: 29. Position: Centre. Height: 6ft 2in. Weight: 15st 9lb. Wales caps: 58. Lions Test caps: 3

Riki Flutey (England & Wasps).

Will be the first to play both for and against the Lions.

Age: 29. Position: Centre. Height: 5ft 11in. Weight: 14st 3lb. England caps: 4. Lions Test caps: 0

Jamie Roberts (Wales & Cardiff Blues).

Brings power and direct running to the midfield.

Age: 24. Position: Centre. Height: 6ft 4in. Weight: 16st 10lb. Wales caps: 7. Lions Test caps: 0

Stephen Jones (Wales & Scarlets).

Renowned for astute game-management and consistency.

Age: 31. Position: Fly-half. Height: 6ft 1in. Weight: 14st 12lb. Wales caps: 75. Lions Test caps: 5

Ronan O'Gara (Ireland & Munster).

Intelligent with bags of experience but sometimes temperamental.

Age: 32. Position: Fly-half. Height: 6ft. Weight: 13st. Ireland caps: 87. Lions Test caps: 11

Mike Phillips (Wales & Ospreys).

Strapping scrum-half who will relish the physical duels.

Age: 26. Position: Scrum-half. Height: 6ft 3in. Weight: 16st 3lb. Wales caps: 33. Lions Test caps: 0

Harry Ellis (England & Leicester).

Hard-working scrum-half who returned to form in Six Nations.

Age: 26. Position: Scrum-half. Height: 5ft 10in. Weight: 14st 4lb. England caps: 22. Lions Test caps: 0

Mike Blair (Edinburgh & Scotland)

Replaces injured Tomas O'Leary and will want to prove his value after a disappointing Six Nations for Scotland.

Age: 27. position: Scrum-half. Height: 5ft 11in. Weight: 13st 8lb. Scotland caps: 58. Lions Test caps: 0

FORWARDS

Gethin Jenkins (Wales & Cardiff Blues)

Flies to South Africa as the first-choice loose-head prop.

Age: 28. Position: Prop. Height: 6ft 2in. Weight: 18st 9lb. Wales caps: 63. Lions Test caps: 7

Andrew Sheridan (England & Sale)

Destructive on his day and improved during Six Nations.

Age: 29. Position: Prop. Height: 6ft 4in. Weight: 18st 8lb. England caps: 27. Lions Test caps: 5

Adam Jones (Wales & Ospreys)

Made huge strides for Wales working under Warren Gatland.

Age: 28. Position: Prop. Height: 6ft. Weight: 20st 5lb. Wales caps: 52. Lions Test caps: 0

Euan Murray (Scotland & Northampton)

The tight-head is a favourite of scrum coach Graham Rowntree.

Age: 28. Position: Prop. Height: 6ft 1in. Weight: 18st 9lb.Scotland caps: 25. Lions Test caps: 0

Phil Vickery (England & Wasps)

Veteran of the 2001 Lions will be a major influence on tour.

Age: 33. Position: Prop. Height: 6ft 2in. Weight: 18st 4lb. England caps: 68. Lions Test caps: 6

Jerry Flannery (Ireland & Munster)

Precise at the lineout and dynamic force in the loose.

Age: 30. Position: Hooker. Height: 5ft 11in. Weight: 16st. Ireland caps: 26. Lions Test caps: 0

Matthew Rees (Wales & Scarlets)

Industrious hooker but concerns over his lineout reliability.

Age: 28. Position: Hooker. Height: 6ft. Weight: 16st 9lb. Wales caps: 29. Lions Test caps: 0

Lee Mears (England & Bath).

Impressive Six Nations and his line-out accuracy is vital.

Age: 30. Position: Hooker. Height: 5ft 8in. Weight: 15st 3lb. England caps: 29. Lions Test caps: 0

Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales & Ospreys)

Agile lineout operator and impressive all-round athlete.

Age: 23. Position: Second row. Height: 6ft 5in. Weight: 18st 9lb. Wales caps: 26. Lions Test caps: 0

Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland & Munster)

Practical joker off the field but a serious beast on it.

Age: 30. Position: Second row. Height: 6ft 6in. Weight: 17st 4lb. Ireland caps: 50. Lions Test caps: 7

Paul O'Connell (Ireland & Munster)

Munster and Ireland's second-row totem leads by example.

Age: 29. Position: Second row. Height: 6ft 6in. Weight: 17st 7lb. Ireland caps: 57. Lions Test caps: 5

Simon Shaw (England & Wasps).

Impressive handling skills for a lock and immensely powerful.

Age: 36. Position: Lock. Height: 6ft 8in. Weight: 19st 4lb. England caps: 50. Lions Test caps: 12

Nathan Hines (Scotland & Perpignan).

His aggression and experience will be vital to face down the Boks. Age: 32. Position: Second row. Height: 6ft 7in. Weight: 18st 9lb. Scotland caps: 56. Lions Test caps: 0

Stephen Ferris (Ireland & Ulster).

Hard-running, hard-tackling back row who came of age this season.

Age: 23. Position: Flanker. Height: 6ft 4in. Weight: 17st 2lb. Ireland caps: 8. Lions Test caps: 0

Joe Worsley (England & Wasps).

Bone-crunching defence on England return earned him the call.

Age: 31. Position: Flanker. Height: 6ft 4in. Weight: 17st 5lb. England caps: 70. Lions Test caps: 0

Alan Quinlan (Ireland & Munster)

A tough character who will relish the rough stuff.

Age: 34. Position: Flanker. Height: 6ft 3in. Weight: 16st 7lb. Ireland caps: 27. Lions Test caps: 0

Martyn Williams (Wales & Cardiff Blues)

The gilt-edged 'Nugget' is a forager and a supreme link man.

Age: 33. Position: Flanker. Height: 6ft. Weight: 15st 13lb. Wales caps: 84. Lions Test caps: 11

David Wallace (Ireland & Munster)

Can play across the back row and a Test Lion in the making.

Age: 32. Position: Flanker. Height: 6ft 2in. Weight: 16st 2lb. Ireland caps: 50. Lions Test caps: 2

Jamie Heaslip (Ireland & Leinster)

Lit up Six Nations with ball-carrying and eye for the tryline.

Age: 25. Position: No 8. Height: 6ft 4in. Weight: 17st 11lb. Ireland caps: 13. Lions Test caps: 0

Andy Powell (Wales & Cardiff Blues)

Direct and powerful number eight made Test breakthrough this year.

Age: 27. Position: Number eight. Height: 6ft 4in. Weight: 17st 6lb. Wales caps: 8. Lions Test caps: 0

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