Check out the five bolters on Warren Gatland’s longlist who are being considered for the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
According to various reports in the UK, Gatland has compiled a 50-man longlist and written a letter to each player individually sounding them out about their availability for the tour of South Africa.
It has emerged that Harlequins flyhalf Marcus Smith is one of the players on the list, despite the young Englishman being uncapped at Test level.
Another surprise inclusion is that of Scotland centre Cameron Redpath, who won his first and only Test cap in the recently concluded Six Nations.
Other surprises include Exeter loose forward Sam Simmonds, who has been largely overlooked by Eddie Jones for England selection, and scrumhalves Danny Care of England and Kieran Hardy of Wales.
Gatland is scheduled to announce his 36-man squad for the tour on Thursday, 6 May (12:45pm SA time).
Lions bolters from Gatland’s longlist:
1. Marcus Smith
Age: 22
Position: Flyhalf
Club: Harlequins
Nationality:English
Test caps: 0
2. Cameron Redpath
Age: 21
Position: Centre
Club: Bath
Nationality: Scottish
Test caps: One
3. Sam Simmonds
Age: 26
Position: No 8
Club: Exeter Chiefs
Nationality: English
Test caps: Seven
4. Danny Care
Age: 34
Position: Scrumhalf
Club: Harlequins
Nationality: English
Test caps: 84
5. Kieran Hardy
Age: 25
Position: Scrumhalf
Club: Scarlets
Nationality: Welsh
Test caps: Four
Photo: Getty Images
