Eight Scots in a Lions squad with surprises

Eight Scots – four times more than in 2017 – will be on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa this summer.

Head coach Warren Gatland sprung some major surprises in an enlarged squad of 37, not least the omission of veteran Irish playmaker Jonny Sexton.

However, he was true to his word that more Scots would be in the squad than the meagre number in 2013 and 2017 under his watch.

Gregor Townsend, the Scotland head coach who will act as Gatland’s assistant on tour, and Steve Tandy, Scotland’s defence coach, have clearly made their voices heard in selection meetings.

Eight tourists is Scotland’s best on a Lions tour in the professional era, and the most since the tour to Australia in 1989. The last Scot to start a Test for the Lions remains Tom Smith in 2001.

Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg will tour with the Lions for the third time, but seven of his colleagues join him. Stand-off Finn Russell would appear to be the beneficiary of Sexton’s omission, while tight-head Zander Fagerson is preferred to England’s Kyle Sinckler.

Scrum-half Ali Price is selected, along with new wing star, the South African-born Duhan van der Merwe. Centre Chris Harris is in a midfield group that is surprisingly missing Wales’ Jonathan Davies.

As expected, Six Nations player of the championship Hamish Watson is included, while Rory Sutherland – although still recovering from injury – is also picked.

Alun Wyn Jones, captain of Wales and picked as a Lion for the fourth time, is the tour captain as expected, even if Maro Itoje’s candidacy to be the first non-white Lions captain, especially in South Africa, had a strong case.

Wyn Jones, the 35-yearold lock who skippered Wales to the Six Nations title this year, said he was “very proud and privileged” to be named skipper.

“To be selected is initially what you want to hear as a player,” he continued. “To be captain, you think of the names that have gone before and what they’ve achieved.

“The significance of this honour isn’t lost on me. ‘Custodianiship’ is the word that has been used frequently in the last few tours I’ve been on.

“The connection you have with the players in other home nations from being on tour with the Lions is very special and unique.”

Gatland said it was “the hardest, most difficult squad I’ve ever had to pick” and he’d gone one over the mark in picking 37 players instead of the stipulated 36.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones.