A Welsh rugby star with strong local connections has been selected for the British Lions squad. Twenty-five-year-old Tom Shanklin, who played for Tenby Swifts at Under 9, 10 and 11 level, will be part of the 44-man squad to tour New Zealand this summer. One of the heroes of the Welsh Grand Slam team, Tom, who plays for the Cardiff Blues, was born in Harrow and began his career with the Exiles, before moving to premiership club, Saracens and then his present club in 2003. Qualified to play for both Wales and England, Tom, who attended both Tenby Junior School, Saundersfoot CP School and Greenhill School when he lived in the area during his childhood, followed his father, Jim, also former Greenhillian, to join the red dragon army after representing the Welsh Exiles, Wales Under 19, Under 21 and Wales A. He now has 33 caps under his belt. "Tom is the first former Tenby Swift to be picked for the British Lions and we are all over the moon," said coach, John Handicott. "Tom is an excellent role model for the Swifts and all the boys are hoping he has a cracking series," he added. The Lions' first match is against Bay of Plenty at the Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday, June 4. This will be followed by three tests against the All Blacks, starting on Saturday, June 25.