British and Irish Lions

By the time the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa comes to an end on July 4, the chances are that the tourists will have featured an all Ospreys back three in at least one of the 10 matches.

Club colleagues Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams have all been selected in Ian McGeechan's 37-man squad and all three will be pushing for a Test spot come June 4.

Full back Byrne and wings Bowe and Williams are used to lining up alongside each other in the familiar black shirts of the Ospreys but they could well be wearing the No15, No14 and No11 jerseys for the Lions later this summer.

Whether or not Byrne, Bowe and Williams do line up alongside each other in Lions colours at some point in South Africa, all three are determined to enjoy being part of the Lions experience.

Here's what they said when they heard about their call ups to the world's most-famous touring party…

Lee Byrne:

"It's fantastic news, I'm delighted to have been named a British & Irish Lion, and I'm really excited about the prospect of being part of such a special experience.

"It's an outstanding achievement for all of us as individuals and for the region to have such a large representation and I think that we're all as pleased for each other as we are for ourselves.

"South Africa is a difficult place to go and win a Test series, but it's going be a memorable occasion for all rugby supporters and I'm just going to make sure I enjoy every minute."

Tommy Bowe:

"It's fantastic news and after doing the Grand Slam with Ireland pretty much rounds off a great season for me.

"It's been a long, tense wait for everybody over the last few months with all the media build-up, but the waiting is over and I'm just thrilled to have made the squad.

"A Lions tour is a pretty special thing. All rugby fans know about the folklore that comes with it, and to be confirmed as part of the 2009 Lions is an incredible feeling."

Shane Williams:

"To be selected for a Lions tour is the ultimate honour for a player and I'm extremely fortunate that this
is the second tour party that I've made.

"To have a party of six players travelling from the Ospreys is a fantastic achievement for the region, one that everybody can be immensely proud of.

"Obviously there are some lads in the squad that will be disappointed not to have been selected, but I'm sure that they will have the character and desire to bounce back from this, and are young enough to make the next Lions tour."

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Radike Samo, one of only two players still playing top level rugby in Australia who placed against the 2001 British & Irish Lions, will return to top flight action with Queensland Reds against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.