Fans Rank The Top 5 Players To Never Be Called Up by Lions - Ruck

Fans Rank The Top 5 Players To Never Be Called Up by Lions

The decision of who the British & Irish Lions head coach, or formerly the selectors, have chosen to represent the famous touring side has long been a topic of debate and disagreement

There are a number of reasons a good player may never win a cap for the famous men in red, from the strength of competition in their position to unfortunately timed injuries, but some seemingly cannot be explained.

All of the players on this list, whether it be on the grounds of their ability or achievements can be considered very unlucky to never be capped be capped by the Lions.

Here’s how fans ranked the top five players who were never capped by the Lions.

#5. Joe Launchbury (England)

Lions boss Warren Gatland was criticised for the “mystifying” omission of Launchbury in 2017 after revealing the Wasps captain had lost out to England team-mate Courtney Lawes for the final second-row place in the Lions squad. The Lions coach’s desire for a hard edge to take on New Zealand persuaded him to turn to Lawes and overlook England’s player of the 2017 Six Nations. Gatland admitted Launchbury was “very, very unlucky

“There was a long discussion about second rows, and the depth and the quality that we’ve got in those positions,” he said.

“We weren’t going to leave out Alun Wyn Jones or Maro Itoje – they were nailed on for us – and Iain Henderson has done an exceptional job for Ireland. We just discussed the differences between Courtney and Joe and they are different players.”

DID YOU KNOW? After Harlequins failed to offer him a professional contract aged 18, he left the club and joined then National League 2 South side Worthing for the 2009–10 season

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