FORMER Stonyhurst College pupils Will Greenwood and Ian Balshaw were today included in a 37-strong squad to tour Australia this summer.

It will be captained by England skipper Martin Johnson who makes Lions history.

Johnson, who was at the helm in South Africa four years ago, becomes the first player to lead successive Lions trips, a feat which proved beyond such legendary past skippers as Willie John McBride and John Dawes.

The Leicester lock will have plenty of familiar faces around him, notably 17 other Englishmen, while Wales provide 10 players, Ireland six and Scotland three.

Scotland's 21-year-old back-row prospect Simon Taylor is the surprise selection, preferred above more experienced candidates like Budge Pountney, Martin Leslie or Martin Corry.

Former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league wing Jason Robinson continues his rapid rise through the union ranks by winning a place.

Robinson, who joined Sale earlier this season, made three substitute appearances for England during the Six Nations Championship, impressing a growing army of admirers each time.

The wing contingent also includes England's Dan Luger, despite the fact that the Saracens flier has yet to resume playing following 12 weeks out nursing a neck injury, while Austin Healey is selected as a scrum-half alongside Rob Howley and Matt Dawson.

Prop Julian White and lock Steve Borthwick are the only members of England's starting line-up on duty against France earlier this month to miss out.

Lions coach Graham Henry has chosen a sizeable Welsh group, led by Test team candidates Scott Quinnell and Rob Howley, although lesser lights Robin McBryde and Martyn Williams also make it.

The highest-profile absentees are Lions veteran Scott Gibbs, the blockbusting Wales centre who made a major impact in South Africa four years ago, and Scottish star Gregor Townsend.

Lions manager Donal Lenihan paid tribute to Johnson's outstanding leadership skills.

"I was very pleased to ask Martin to lead the Lions this summer. He is, by everybody's reckoning, the outstanding candidate for captain," Lenihan said.

"All of us are now looking forward to facing the challenge of beating the world champions in their own country."

The 10-match tour starts against Western Australia in Perth on June 8, culminating in three Tests on June 30, July 7 and 14.

Lions squad for the summer tour to Australia.

Full-backs: I Balshaw (Bath and England), M Perry (Bath and England).

Wings: B Cohen (Northampton and England), D James (Llanelli and Wales), D Luger (Saracens and England), J Robinson (Sale and England).

Centres: M Catt (Bath and England), W Greenwood (Harlequins and England), R Henderson (Wasps and Ireland), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock College and Ireland), M Taylor (Swansea and Wales).

Fly-halves: N Jenkins (Cardiff and Wales), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution and Ireland), J Wilkinson (Newcastle and England).

Scrum-halves: M Dawson (Northampton and England), A Healey (Leicester and England), R Howley (Cardiff and Wales).

Props: J Leonard (Harlequins and England), D Morris (Swansea and Wales), T Smith (Brive and Scotland), P Vickery (Gloucester and England), D Young (Cardiff and Wales).

Hookers: P Greening (Wasps and England), R McBryde (Llanelli and Wales), K Wood (Harlequins and Ireland).

Locks: J Davidson (Castres and Ireland), D Grewcock (Saracens and England), M Johnson (Leicester and England, capt), S Murray (Saracens and Scotland), M O'Kelly (St Mary's College).

Back-row: N Back (Leicester and England), C Charvis (Swansea and Wales), L Dallaglio (Wasps and England), R Hill (Saracens and England), S Quinnell (Llanelli and Wales), S Taylor (Edinburgh and Scotland), M Williams (Cardiff and Wales).