"Why he's thought of as good, not great" - 4 England internationals who 'failed' with the Lions

byRugby Rucker

Despite being built up to play starring roles for the British & Irish Lions, sometimes it simply doesn’t work out…

Here, RUCK feature writer Jon Henderson ranks his five ‘most disappointing’ England internationals who were selected for the Lions down the years.

#4. Will Carling (England) – 1993

Major teams British and Irish Lions, Harlequins, England, England XV
Position Centre
Lions caps 1

The legendary England captain’s career included the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand.

He underachieved on that tour, a pattern attributed by coach Ian McGeechan and manager Geoff Cooke as at least partly due to his failing to secure the captaincy (this instead going to Gavin Hastings of Scotland) but also due in large part to the ascendency in the centre of both Jeremy Guscott and Scott Gibbs of Wales.

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McGeechan and Cooke disclosed that Carling came close to voluntarily withdrawing from the squad; he did however recover his test place and played a notable role in the third test.

McGeechan commented in his autobiography that Carling’s failure to rise to the occasion as a Lion (in contrast to Guscott) may be seen by some as the difference between his legacy as a good player and a great player.

DID YOU KNOW? Prior to their divorce, he was romantically linked by some members of the press with Diana, Princess of Wales, the then-wife of Prince Charles

#3. Dylan Hartley (England) - 2013

Major teams Northampton Saints, England
Position Hooker

In May 2013 Hartley was sent off in the Aviva Premiership final against Leicester and banned for 11 weeks after being found guilty of verbally abusing a match official.

Despite already being photographed in full kit and names in the squad, this act cost Hartley his place in the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. He would never go on a Lions tour before retiring.

DID YOU KNOW? Hartley was born one of three boys (his brothers are Blair and Alex) in Rotorua, a largely rural area in northern New Zealand

#2. Stuart Barnes (England) – 1993

Major teams Barbarians, Bath Rugby, Bristol Bears, British and Irish Lions, England B, England Under-23s, Oxford and Cambridge, England, England XV
Position Fly-half
Lions caps 0

First capped in 1984, he only represented England ten times, frequently criticised for his inability to convert his magnificent form for Bath onto the international stage.

Ultimately after a torrid tour, losing six of 13 matches played, Barnes served as a perfect microcosm for its inadequate results in 1993, just not good enough.

DID YOU KNOW? Although born in Essex, he played his schoolboy international rugby for Wales Schools

#1. Jonny Wilkinson (England) – 2001

Major teams British and Irish Lions, Newcastle Falcons, Toulon, England
Position Fly-half
Caps 6

The second test against Australia, on 7 July, saw the Lions lose 35–14 at the Docklands Stadium.

Wilkinson was blamed by many for throwing a long pass inside his 22 that was intercepted by Joe Roff: which was seen as not only the turning point in the match, but the test series.

Four years later, he started all three tests for the tourists as Sir Clive Woodward's side was heavily beaten 3-0 by the All Blacks before missing the 2009 tour to South Africa due to injury.

In 2013, Gatland revealed the World Cup-winner turned down the chance to tour Australia with Wilkinson informing the Kiwi coach he was not physically up to the task and would not be available for the start of the tour due to club commitments with Toulon.

A standout Lions tour is truly the only thing missing from Wilkinson's incredible CV, which included multiple Six Nations, Champions Cups, Premiership and the Rugby World Cup.

DID YOU KNOW? He gained a place at the University of Durham, but gave his place up in 1997 to become a professional rugby union player with the Newcastle Falcons