Seven Wales players have been selected to start in the first British and Irish Lions team to play on the 2009 tour of South Africa.
The full 22 man match day squad contains ten of the Welsh contingent currently on the tour which kicks-off on Saturday the 30th of May against the Royal XV in Phokeng near Rustenburg.
The seven Welsh starters are Lee Byrne, Jamie Roberts,.Shane Williams, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees while Alun Wyn Jones, Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones are named as replacements.
 The British and Irish Lions Tour Manager, Gerald Davies, said:”After all the preparation the match against the Royal XV on Saturday marks the start of the 2009 tour. Everyone in the tour party is looking forward getting the playing part of the tour underway.”
The team features an all Ospreys back three with Byrne and Shane Williams joined by Tommy Bowe on the right wing.Jamie Roberts combines with Keith Earls of Munster and Ireland at centre with the Welshman wearing the number 12 shirt.In the pack Andy Powell starts at eight with Martyn Williams at openside and Joe Owrseley of London Wasps and England at six.Adam Jones and Matthew Rees are joined in a powerhouse front row by Andrew Sheridan of Sale Sharks and England at loosehead prop.Â
The full team is: 15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys, Wales) 14. Tommy Bowe (Ospreys, Scotland) 13, Keith Earls(Munster, Ireland)Â 12. Jamie Roberts(Cardiff Blues, Wales) 11. Shane Williams(Ospreys, Wales) 10. Ronan O’Gara(Munster, Ireland)
9. Mike Blair(Edinburgh, Scotland) 8. Andy Powell(Cardiff Blues,Wales) 7. Martyn Williams(Cardiff Blues,Wales)
6. Joe Worsley(London Wasps, England) 5. Paul O’Connell(Munster,Ireland) Captain 4. Simon Shaw(London Wasps, England) 3. Adam Jones(Ospreys, Wales) 2. Matthew Rees(Scarlets, Wales) 1. Andrew Sheridan(Sale Sharks, England
Replacements: 16. Lee Mears(Bath,England) 17. Phil Vickery(LondonWasps, England)18. Alun Wyn Jones(Ospreys, Wales) 19. Stephen Ferris(Ulster, Ireland) 20. Mike Phillips(Ospreys, Wales) 21. Stephen Jones(Scarlets,Wales) 22. Riki Flutey(London Wasps, England)
