Pundits react angrily to Warren Gatland call-ups

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by Rugby Rucker

Saturday, 17 June 2017 at 09:28

byRugby Rucker

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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 Foden

@ben_foden

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Wouldn't matter if a player was on the moon, if the call came from @lionsofficial they would make it back and give anything asked! #shame

8:05 AM · Jun 17, 2017

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Complete bollocks mate. Shouldn't become a Lion based on locality. The most exclusive club in rugby needs to be just that

Alastair Eykyn

@alastaireykyn

2/2 ...will cripple them for future if not sorted. Instead Lions shirts will be handed out like confetti. Doesn't feel right at all.

5:45 PM · Jun 16, 2017

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owenslotTheTimes

@owenslot

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Lions call-ups of convenience devalue the shirt. By @BenKay5 thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/…

4:36 AM · Jun 17, 2017

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Craig Minto Chalmers

@Chick_Chalmers

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bit.ly/Squad-Update If you are called into the @lionsofficial squad it should be on merit & not because you are in the same country.

5:56 AM · Jun 17, 2017

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Eggchasers

@RugbyPodcast

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Warren Gatland has just announced the Lions latest call up #LionsNZ2017

7:52 AM · Jun 17, 2017

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Tim Cocker

@cocker

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Warren Gatland...not sure you 'get' the Lions pal. What the shirt represents & HOW you win or lose matters as well as results #LionsNZ2017

12:18 AM · Jun 17, 2017

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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."