Edit 2021– Duhan Van der Merwe is now the second Afrikaans player to play for the British and Irish Lions, playing in the 2021 tour of South Africa. CJ Stander was the first in 2017 (in the tour of New Zealand)
CJ Stander has become the first Afrikaans player to earn selection to the British and Irish Lions following his announced in the squad selected by Warren Gatland today.
Stander, a former Baby Bok skipper, was told by coach Heyneke Meyer that he was too short for a loose forward, and thus chose to move to Ireland, where he has already become a club legend of sorts at Munster and has been capped by Ireland.
Stander, while being the first Afrikaner to earn Lions selection, is not the first South African- eight other previous Saffa born players have been selected for the Lions.
South Africa born British Lions Rugby Players
Amateur era
RC Mullins (1896)
Stan Harris (1924)
Brian Black (1930)
Dyson Wilson (1955)
Pro Era
Mike Catt
Matt Stevens
Ian Evans
Brad Barritt
CJ Stander
Duhan van der Merwe