British and Irish Lions

O'Driscoll led the Lions to New Zealand four years after being part of the tour to Australia and has captained his country on more than 40 occasions.

The 29-year-old has been chosen by new Ireland coach Declan Kidney to lead a 41-man squad for the games against Canada, New Zealand and Australia on November 8, 15 and 22 respectively.

O'Driscoll starred in Leinster's 41-11 win over London Wasps last weekend but could miss the match against Canada as a result of the knee injury that saw him sidelined during the second-half of the RDS victory.

Kidney has included seven other Lions in his first competitive squad, with Shane Horgan, Geordan Murphy, Ronan O'Gara, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly also involved.

Ireland meet for a week's training in Limerick on Monday, with the squad set to be reduced to approximately 30 players at the end of that camp.

"I am delighted that Brian has agreed to captain the squad," said Kidney, who took over from Eddie O'Sullivan earlier this year.

"I have also opted to name a bigger squad than originally anticipated so that we can continue to familiarise a largely new-look backroom staff with a wider group of players.

"Our games assume additional importance this year considering their significance as regards our seeding position going into the World Cup 2011 draw being made in December.

"We are currently ranked 8th - just ahead of Scotland - so the fact that it is paramount to at least maintain a Top 8 ranking, underlines the additional importance of our results against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina."

Ireland squad

Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ian Dowling (Shannon - Munster), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht), Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster), Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Barry Murphy (UL Bohemians - Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster) Captain, Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)

Forwards: Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon - Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon - Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish), Tom Court (Malone - Ulster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster), John Hayes (Shannon - Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf - Leinster), Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster), Michael Ross (Harlequins), Donncha Ryan (Shannon - Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster), Roger Wilson (Northampton)

The Brumbies pair of Ben Mowen and Christian Leali'ifano will get the chance to follow in the footsteps of their team mates by beating the British & Irish Lions when they make their Qantas Wallaby Test debuts against the tourists in Brisbane on Saturday.

Rob Howley says having George North available for selection is a major plus for the British & Irish Lions as they go in search of the tries he believes will be needed to beat the Qantas Wallabies this Saturday.

Less than four kilometres away from the Suncorp Stadium, venue for the opening Test between the British & Irish Lions and Qantas Wallabies on Saturday, lies the grave of the man who took the starring role in the first international between the two teams in 1899.