The British and Irish Lions squad announcement LIVE: Full team revealed as Owen Farrell, Ben Curry and Jamie George among the omissions as Maro Itoje is named captain ahead of summer tour

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

After such a long wait, it all happened so fast! Plenty to digest but at first glance, the inclusion of Henry Pollock and the coaches’ decision to back both of England’s Smiths are the stand-out elements of that squad announcement.

What a meteoric rise for Pollock, who is only 20. But his performance against Leinster in Dublin last weekend surely proved that he has what it takes, in what was a Test in all but name.

He will illuminate the tour and, despite his lack of experience, he has such rare X-factor that there is no reason why he can’t play himself into Test contention.

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

Finn Russell and two Smiths!! Major boost for Marcus Smith after a tough few months. Huge cheers when he was named.

So, after all the debate, no place for either veteran English playmaker – Farrell and Ford, or Ireland’s current first-choice 10, Prendergast.

Will be fascinating to hear the reasoning. The suspicion must be that Marcus Smith’s ability to cover full-back has worked in his favour.

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

No Owen Farrell OR George Ford. Wow. The rookie 10s being trusted, it seems…

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

No Jamie George… no Courtney Lawes. But Henry Pollock is in – huge story.

Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)

Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)

Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (England)

Scott Cummings (Scotland)

Zander Fagerson (Scotland)

Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)

Josh van der Flier (Ireland)

Tey’ve just shown highlights of the 2013 tour. Welsh stars George North, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts all stood out.

But how many Welsh players will make it this time around after Wales finished bottom of the Six Nations table?

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

Ad break. This is going to be excruciating for players waiting to find out if they’ve been selected.

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

Itoje revealed that he was called by Andy Farrell on Tuesday, but it turns out they struggled with a bad line and Farrell had to make a second attempt to speak to his chosen captain.

Much amusement all round here as the story was recounted. Itoje was given a stirring, standing ovation by the audience and his appointment to lead the Lions appears to be a popular choice.

Itoje has revealed he was told he would be captain on Tuesday.

He said he got the call from an Irish number and was initially unsure whether to pick up. Luckily, he did!

Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER at the O2 Arena:

Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell, said: “I want to congratulate Maro on being named captain of The British & Irish Lions.

“This is a great honour for Maro, his family and everyone who has supported him throughout his career from Saracens to England – and on to The Lions in 2017 and 2021.

“As a two-time tourist, Maro fully understands what The Lions is all about and also the role of the captain in helping the group achieve its goal of winning a Test Series this summer.”

British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje said: “It feels amazing to be named Lions captain.

“I’m deeply honoured, humbled and I will do my best to do the role justice. I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great Tour.

“I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role.”

Mail Sport’s NIK SIMON at the O2 Arena:

No shock. Maro Itoje arrives, to be unveiled as Lions captain, as expected.

The England skipper was a shoo-in from the moment his primary rival for the role – Ireland’s Caelan Doris – suffered a shattering shoulder injury last weekend, when Leinster were beaten by Northampton. Itoje only started leading his country in the Six Nations this year, after being promoted in place of his fellow Saracen, Jamie George.

He has been widely acclaimed for the way he handled the responsibility and, as a certainty to feature in the Lions Test XV when fit, his status as tour captain is deserved.

They are just showing a video of former captains giving their take on leading the Lions.

Irish icon Paul O’Connell labels it the ‘ultimate honour’.

Mail Sport’s NIK SIMON and ALEX BYWATER at the O2 Arena:

Anyone else watch the new Diamond Heist series on Netflix over the past few days?

I did and I’m slightly disappointed that Andy Farrell, who has just taken his seat on stage alongside chairman Ieuan Evans, didn’t arrive at the O2 on a big JCB digger.

‘I’m pretty chill… my job is done and Ieuan’s the one who’s got to read them out!’ said Farrell, taking his seat.

‘We’re delighted to get to this stage.’

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

I think all those dozens of players watching and anxiously waiting will be hoping that these preliminaries don’t take long…

Some chats on stage currently taking place, but shouldn’t be too long now…

Just five minutes until the squad is announced.

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

Less than 10 minutes to go until the squad announcement. Stand by.

Big intrigue about the identity of the chosen 10s and also – from an English perspective at least – whether Northampton’s rookie sensation, Henry Pollock, will be included.

All around Britain and Ireland, players are tuning in to the coverage and most of them (aside from the small core of certainties) know as much about what is about to happen as the watching public. There will be so much tension among the hopefuls as they wait and hope to see and hear their name.

Sir Clive Woodward took the Lions to New Zealand in 2005, and he has named the squad he would pick if he was in charge this summer…

Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER at the O2 Arena:

Assistant coach John Fogarty reveals the Lions started with a long list of 74 players.

‘We’re really happy with the squad we have,’ he said.

Aled Walters, head of strength and conditioning, said: ‘I really feel for the guys who are missing out. They’ll never know they were in the conversation to the last minute.’

Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER at the O2 Arena:

Two Lions coaches up on stage now are among the funniest characters in the whole set-up – Aled Walters and John Fogarty, who will oversee the scrum and fitness respectively.

Fogarty has already tested out the swearing limitations, before this show moves live on to Sky Sports.

Both men talking now will be great assets on a long tour, as they have the humour – as well as the expertise – to keep morale high with their endless gags.

Mail Sport’s NIK SIMON at the O2 Arena:

Usher was performing at the O2 Arena last night. Today it’s going to be Andy Farrell and Maro itoje taking the stage, although we’re in one of the smaller rooms in the venue, with a capacity of a couple of thousand.

They’re currently waiting backstage while the likes of CEO Ben Calveley and S&C coach Aled Walters doing a few interviews with hosts Ugo Monte and Lee McKenzie.

We are expecting Andy Farrell to name his squad and captain from 2pm, and we should then hear from Farrell and the Lions captain (it’s Maro Itoje!) after that.

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

The arena is filling up, gradually. Spectators have been asked by the event hosts – former England and Lions wing Ugo Monye and sports presenter Lee McKenzie – not to post any ‘spoilers’ on social media, if they happen to ‘see something they shouldn’t’ before the official announcement begins.

It certainly isn’t easy to hide the captain-in-waiting, Maro Itoje…

We expect Maro Itoje to be named Lions captain in around 30 minutes.

He will become the first Englishman to be handed the honour since Martin Johnson in 2001.

That was also for a tour of Australia, which the Lions narrowly lost 2-1.

It has been 12 years since the Lions last visited Australia, and it was a triumphant tour.

It all went down to the third and final Test after the Lions won the opening game 23-21 before losing the second 16-15.

After two tight contests, the decider saw the Lions turn on the style in the second half to run out 41-16 winners.

Prior to the Six Nations it seemed nailed on that Scotland’s Finn Russell would be the starting Lions fly-half this summer.

But Russell had an indifferent campaign and has not quite hit top form in recent weeks.

Could another Fin – England’s Fin Smith – get the nod instead?

Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER at the O2 Arena:

The big question for me today is will Henry Pollock be selected?
The Northampton flanker was virtually unheard of at the start of the season, but has had a breakthrough campaign to become a new star of English rugby.

He scored two tries on his England debut against Wales in the Six Nations and was immense for Saints in their Investec Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster last Saturday.

In my opinion, that Dublin performance was enough to earn him a place on the plane to Australia.

Don’t get me wrong, it would be a big call to pick a 20-year-old with only one Test cap for the Lions.

But I think Pollock deserves it. Selection would very much make him the definition of a Lions bolter.

It’s the call that everyone will be keeping a close eye on this afternoon. Will Andy Farrell pick his own son, Owen.

The former England captain would bring experience and leadership, but has had an injury-hit season in France.

Is it time to look beyond the 33-year-old, or does he still have something to offer to the Lions?

He’s the man everyone is talking about right now – Henry Pollock.

The 20-year-old wonderkid starred again on the weekend as Northampton stunned Leinster to reach the Champions Cup final.

But has this summer’s tour come too soon for him? Not in the eyes of Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY…

Mail Sport’s CHRIS FOY at the O2 Arena:

The audience is starting to arrive at the Lions squad announcement venue – Indigo at the O2 Arena.

At this stage, only a few hundred people have taken their seats, but organisers are expecting around 2,000 paying spectators for the grand unveiling.

For now, those present are being shown an interactive rugby-based video game on the giant screen behind the stage; nominally involving a contest between event hosts Ugo Monye and Lee McKenzie.

Doris was seen as the favourite to captain the Lions at one point, but that honour now looks likely to go to Itoje after the Irishman suffered a shoulder injury on the weekend.

Doris will undergo surgery, but will he be able to recover in time to make the plane to Australia?

One player we know who will not be heading to Australia this summer is Itoje’s fellow England lock George Martin.

Martin has been ruled out through injury, and Farrell has several other fitness concerns to contend with as well.

We are expecting England skipper Maro Itoje to be unveiled as Lions captain this afternoon.

But who will be joining him as the Lions head Down Under?

Welcome to our coverage of today’s Lions squad announcement.

Which players will Andy Farrell pick to head to Australia this summer as the Lions aim for their first series win in 12 years?

We will find out very soon…