Rugby players and pundits have reacted angrily to Warren Gatland calling up four 'undeserving' Welsh players.
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Sir Ian McGeechan: "where you are shouldn't determine that you are in a @lionsofficial jersey". #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/oWlCYlipyo
— #RugbySaracens (@RugbySaracens) June 17, 2017
Ben Kay wrote in The Times that "selecting players for the British & Irish Lions squad because they happen to be on the doorstep, rather than because they have earned their promotion, devalues the jersey.
"It is harsh on those like [Dylan] Hartley and Joe Launchbury, who were next in line on merit, to miss out on Lions selection just because England are on the other side of the world.
"Jonny Gray can feel unfortunate too, given what he has achieved with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland over the last couple of years - and he is in Australia."
