Lawes is revealed as the Lions’ 37th man
COURTNEY Lawes was the late addition to the Lions squad Warren Gatland sought special dispensation to pick, according to reports.
Gatland had to wait until 7pm last Wednesday night to get the green light to select an extra man after previously committing to a trim 36-man squad.
The identity of the lucky player to get the late call had been unknown, but the Telegraph say Lawes, who toured in 2017, was that man.
And Gatland has revealed the decision will cost the Lions £100,000.
“When I had to go back to the CEO and the board about getting an extra player, that costs the Lions well over £100,000 by the time we’ve paid the club and the player and all the costs associated with that.
“Particularly at the moment when rugby’s struggling financially and the Lions are desperately trying to break even, or there’s potentially a loss situation, it’s not the easiest conversation to have,” Gatland said.
Meanwhile, Wales fly-half Dan Biggar was left slightly red-faced by the manner in which his – and Lawes’ – Lions call-ups were revealed.
Northampton Saints boss Chris Boyd halted training to make the announcement in front of the entire squad, with team-mates going wild as Biggar and Lawes were confirmed as tourists.
Biggar, who is heading on his second Lions tour, said: “The way Boydy announced it to the group was a bit embarrassing as it was in the middle of training, and the worst thing was that we dropped the next couple of balls in the next couple of plays, so I don’t think he will be doing that again!
“I’m really over the moon to be selected, and just really proud for myself and my family, but also very proud to represent this club for the Lions.
“I feel like I’m a better player today than when I first walked into Northampton, that’s not a negative slant on my 10 years with the Ospreys, but working with Chris Boyd and Sam Vesty has made me a better player. Saints has been brilliant for me and to be recognised as a Lion while playing for Northampton is special.
“It’s really nice to enjoy the moment and celebrate the call, but we’ve got a huge six weeks coming up now. I’m trying to park everything else now and give everything I’ve got for Northampton, because there’s so much to play for here before the end of the season.”
■ WALES and Scarlets flanker James Davies won’t feature for the rest of the season due to ongoing concussion issues.
Davies, 30, has not played since Wales’ Autumn Nations Cup win over Georgia in November.
Scarlets, now departed head coach Glenn Delaney told the BBC: “He is probably somebody we will not see until the start of the next campaign.
“We are being really cautious with him. He is training on the side and not in the team sessions yet.
“When you bear in mind the layoff that he has had, he has to completely recondition his body so he can play safely.
“I would think he might not make this season but that is not to the detriment to the work that is going on with him. It might just give him an even better chance to make sure next season is an absolute cracker.”
■ Ken Owens is “nailed on” to become the Lions Test hooker this summer, according to his former Wales front row pal Adam Jones.
Owens is set to compete with England’s Jamie George for the No. 2 shirt but Jones believes it is the 34-year-old Scarlet who will be Gatland’s first choice.
Harlequins forwards coach Jones said: “It’s never set in stone but I would say he’s pretty nailed on to start that first Test.
“Without sounding harsh, Ken does an incredible job to get the most out of his body. Certainly, when I played with him, he wasn’t the fittest and he wasn’t the strongest, but what he has always been is absolutely 100% all the time.
“The last time I played with Ken in the Wales squad was six or seven years ago. He was still a fairly young kid then. You could get him to do things for you. But now he’s grown into a leader.”
Jones praised Owens’ set-piece game, ball-carrying and defending, but believes his strength in the set piece goes under the radar.
“He’s a good scrummager and he throws in very well,” he added.
“He’s all-action and runs through brick walls for his country, but maybe the nuts and bolts of his game - and how good he is - goes under the radar. He’s just a wonderful player. He’s also a good bloke - one of the best.”