Ugo Monye was a surprise inclusion in the British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa.

It marks a remarkable rise for the Harlequins wing who made his debut for England in the autumn internationals against the Pacific South Sea Islanders.

A back injury ruled him out of the start of the Six Nations but he was brought back when Paul Sackey was dropped for the win over the French in March.

The 26-year-old scored his one and only try for England in the win over Scotland and he has now won the vote to go to South Africa ahead of his international team-mates Mark Cueto and Delon Armitage, both of whom miss the three-Test trip.

Only eight English players were named by head coach Ian McGeechan in the 37-strong squad that will be led by Ireland's Paul O'Connell.

England had 22 players — one came out as a replacement — on Sir Clive Woodward's disastrous 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand, but now have their lowest number since the 1977 tour to New Zealand.

Grand Slam winners Ireland have 14 players in the party, with Wales 13, and Scotland just two.

Three national captains, England's Steve Borthwick, Scotland's Mike Blair and, most surprisingly of all, Ryan Jones of Wales, have been ignored.

Shane Williams is included, though, as the winger did just enough to convince McGeechan that he should travel.

The head coach said: “Naturally there were some tough decisions and there will be disappointed players but I am confident that this is a very strong and capable squad. Its composition reflects the form shown in the Six Nations and domestic rugby and has a balanced blend of experience and youth.

“Paul O'Connell has shown over his career that he is a natural leader both on and off the field. He leads from the front on the field and as a quality international has the respect of his fellow players.”

The Lions squad

Full-backs: Lee Byrne (Wal) Rob Kearney (Ire)

Wings: Shane Williams (Wal), Tommy Bowe (Ire), Luke Fitzgerald (Ire), Ugo Monye (Eng), Leigh Halfpenny (Wal)

Centres: Riki Flutey (Eng), Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), Tom Shanklin (Wal), Jamie Roberts (Wal), Keith Earls (Ire)

Fly-halves: Stephen Jones (Wal)
Ronan O'Gara (Ire)

Scrum-halves: Mike Phillips (Wal), Harry Ellis (Eng), Tomas O'Leary (Ire)

Props: Andrew Sheridan (Eng), Phil Vickery (Eng), Euan Murray (Scot), Gethin Jenkins (Wal), Adam Jones (Wal)

Hookers: Matthew Rees (Wal), Jerry Flannery (Ire), Lee Mears (Eng)

Locks: Simon Shaw (Eng), Paul O'Connell (capt, Ire), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wal), Nathan Hines (Scot) Donncha O'Callaghan (Ire)

No8: Jamie Heaslip (Ire), Andy Powell (Wal)

Flanker: Martyn Williams (Wal), Joe Worsley (Eng), Stephen Ferris (Ire), David Wallace (Ire), Alan Quinlan (Ire)