Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe will become Warriors’ second British and Irish Lion following his inclusion in Warren Gatland’s 37-man squad for this summer’s tour of South Africa.
Although van der Merwe will still be an Edinburgh player when the tour begins, his contract with Warriors begins on July 1, two days before the Lions face the DHL Stormers in their opening match in Cape Town.
Van der Merwe, who has cored eight tries in his first ten internationals and who was leading try-scorer in this year’s Guinness Six Nations, will emulate former England centre Ben Te’o who toured New Zealand in 2017 while with Warriors and played in two Tests against the All Blacks.
Van der Merwe, 25, played his formative rugby in his native South Africa for South West District Eagles and the Blue Bulls and he also represented South Schools and South Africa Under-20s before moving to Europe in 2016 on an initial youth contract with Montpellier.
“It is terrific to see that Duhan has made the Lions squad,” said Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons.
“It’s great news for Duhan and also for Worcester Warriors. All of us here at Sixways are chuffed to bits at having a Warrior selected for the Lions.
“He is a tremendous player and had a great Six Nations. There is absolutely no doubt that he fully deserves his selection. There is equally no doubt that he will have a terrific tour.”
Josh Adams, the Wales and former Warriors wing, was also named in the squad announced by British and Irish Lions Chairman Jason Leonard and which will be captain by Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones.
British & Irish Lions squad
Backs (16):
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) – Wing
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) – Centre
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) – Fly-half #821
Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) – Centre #822
Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) – Scrum-half
Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) – Fly-half #780
Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) – Centre
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) – Centre #824
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) – Full-back #783
Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) – Scrum-half #790
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) – Scrum-half
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales) – Wing
Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) – Fly-half #835
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) – Wing
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) – Wing #816
Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) – Full-back #833
Forwards (21):
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) – Second row
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) – Back row
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) – Hooker
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) – Back row
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) – Prop
Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) – Back row #779
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) – Prop #818
Jamie George (Saracens, England) – Hooker #819
Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) – Second row #808
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England) – Second row
Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) – Second row #825
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales) (Captain) – Second row #761
Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) – Prop
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) – Second row #826
Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) – Hooker #829
Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) – Prop
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) – Back row
Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) – Prop