The Lions touch down in Auckland later today [Wednesday morning New Zealand time] and officially kick off the 2017 Tour.
Warren Gatland’s squad assembled at Heathrow Stadium on Monday morning after attending a glitzy farewell dinner at London’s Roundhouse on Sunday evening.
It was an early start for the Classs of 2017 but they were looking the part in their Thomas Pink team attire.
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Once the suit snaps were taken, the lads changed into some more comfortable gear for the long-haul flights to New Zealand.
There were some interesting combinations for plane buddies but it was good to see the different nationalities mixing.
Stuart Hogg having the craic with Jonny Sexton
England winger Anthony Watson and Wales hooker Ken Owens
Courtney Lawes and James Haskell looking chuffed with life
Let’s hope Scarlets’ Jonathan Davies didn’t mention the PRO12 final to Munster’s Conor Murray
Scottish winger Tommy Seymour and English outhalf Owen Farrell straight onto their phones
Jack Nowell with the plan socks and Peter O’Mahony with the screen up already
Dressed in much more casual lightning bolt sweatshirts were Ireland captain Rory Best and England centre Jonathan Joseph.
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Lawes was apparently playing shoot-em-ups on the flight over while cousins Toby Faletau and Mako Vunipola [right-hand side] were casual as you like.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUsH7rZgYYZ/?taken-by=jameshask
The squad will arrive at approximately 11:30am NZ time with Gatland and tour manager John Spencer speaking to the press after they get through all their arrival checks.
