Rugby: Flutey honoured by Lions selection

New Zealander Riki Flutey is set to become the first player ever to play for and against the Lions. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealander Riki Flutey has described it as a "huge honour" to be selected as a member of the British and Irish Lions' rugby squad to tour South Africa.

The midfield back is set to acquire the unique honour of being the first player ever to play for and against the Lions, having come off the reserve bench for Wellington against the 2005 tourists.

Having played eight times for England, he couldn't speak highly enough of his pride at being named today in the 37-strong Lions squad.

"It is a huge honour to be selected in this squad, it is massive and the pinnacle of my career really," Flutey told Setanta Sports News.

"A lot of players have been putting their hands up for selection in this Lions squad and I am sure that the guys who have not been selected will obviously be very disappointed, but for us guys that have been selected it is a huge honour. The Lions is an amazing sporting event and is so exciting to be a part of."

Former Hurricanes utility Flutey is one of only eight English players selected for the tour, with 14 selected from Ireland, 13 from Wales and just two Scots.

But the Wasps man is happy to play alongside any of them, believing the squad contains several of the world's premier players, including Irish captain Paul O'Connell.

"Paul O'Connell is a very strong character and he is a player that leads by example and I'm sure everybody will look up to him," Flutey said.

"There are some fantastic individuals within our team. I am really excited to be playing alongside some of the best players in the world."

Flutey acknowledged the enormous challenge South Africa would provide.

"They are the world champions and they will be very tough to beat but I think as a squad we really need to come together pretty quickly and obviously click as a team and enjoy playing alongside each other to beat South Africa.

"It all comes down to whether we can come together quickly and gel as a team and put in good and winning performances out on the field."

Lions selection is the realisation of a huge ambition for Flutey, who admits he was very nervous ahead of the team selection and could not bear to sit in front of the television and watch coach Ian McGeechan's squad being announced today.

"It has been the old school way of finding out whether you are in the squad or not - finding out when the rest of the public do - and to be honest I went out to lunch with a good friend of mine and my wife gave me a call and told me I was in the squad.

"I don't think I could handle sitting in front of the TV and maybe not seeing my name read out.

"I have not spoken to any of the management yet. I am not too sure where they are looking at playing me, whether I am covering other positions or what.

"But I have played right through the whole backline at quite a high level in my rugby career so wherever they decide to play me I will be more than happy to fit in somewhere."

Lions Squad
Backs: Leigh Byrne (Wales), Rob Kearney (Ireland), Shane Williams (Wales), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ugo Monye (England), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Tom Shanklin (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Keith Earls (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England), Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Stephen Jones (Wales), Mike Phillips (Wales), Harry Ellis (England), Tomas O'Leary (Ireland).

Forwards: Andrew Sheridan (England), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones (Wales), Phil Vickery (England), Euan Murray (Scotland), Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Lee Mears (England), Matthew Rees (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland - captain), Donncha O'Callaghan (Ireland), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales), Simon Shaw (England), Nathan Hines (Scotland), Stephen Ferris (Ireland), David Wallace (Ireland), Martyn Williams (Wales), Alan Quinlan (Ireland), Joe Worsley (England), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Andy Powell (Wales).

- NZPA