No tour regrets for Finn and Al

ALLAN DELL and Finn Russell insist they have no regrets about joining the British and Irish Lions as mid-tour reinforcements.

The Scotland duo joined the Lions as part of boss Warren Gatland’s six-strong mid-tour callups, designed to ease the burden on the Test match squad.

Gatland’s decision has been criticised as devaluing the shirt, amid claims the players were selected on proximity ahead of pure merit.

Prop Dell and fly-half Russell – the only call-ups to take to the field – revealed no Scotland players rejected the Lions’ advances, despite rumours to the contrary and admitted they jumped at the chance to join the squad.

“I’m definitely glad I came out here; you’d really regret not coming,” said Russell, who featured for five minutes as a temporary replacement for Dan Biggar in Tuesday’s 31-31 Hurricanes draw.

“It’s a big chance. It might never happen again. So you take it and make the most of it.

“It’s a no-brainer. I don’t think anyone would turn down the Lions.

“No one [from Scotland] said no, and no one would.”

Asked if accepting a Lions call-up was a no-brainer, Dell replied: “Yes it is, you’d be crazy to say no.

“It’s something you jump at and could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”