Wales captain Ryan Jones is the highest-profile omission from the 37-man British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer which was announced today.

England skipper Steve Borthwick and flanker Tom Croft have also been left out, along with Scotland captain Mike Blair.

But there are shock call-ups for Harlequins’ England winger Ugo Monye and Munster’s Ireland centre Keith Earls and back-rower Alan Quinlan.

Ian McGeechan has found no place in the tour party for his Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani, instead opting for Ronan O’Gara and Stephen Jones.

Paul O’Connell, who will captain the Lions, is one of 14 Irishman in the squad, while Wales have 13 representatives, England eight and Scotland two.

The Test series kicks off in Durban on June 20.

Lions manager Gerald Davies today ended the waiting game by announcing a 37-man party for the 10-match trip, that includes three Tests against the world champion Springboks.

British and Irish Lions squad for the 2009 tour of South Africa:

Full-back: Lee Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland)

Wing: Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

Centre: Tom Shanklin (Wales), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England)

Fly-half: Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales)

Scrum-half: Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomas O’Leary (Ireland)

Number eight: Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales)

Flanker: David Wallace (Ireland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Martyn Williams (Wales)

Lock: Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland, capt), Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland)

Prop: Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Andrew Sheridan (England), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland)

Hooker: Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales)