Uncapped Lion, who will it be?

[Experimental]

As we all know its tradition to bring an uncapped player on the Lions tour. But who will it be? I can see two Irish in contention at this moment. Kildare man Adam Byrne and Michaels' Dan Leavy who I've been hugely impressed with. Would love to hear more thoughts especially from our English, Scottish and Welsh friends on who they've flagged as potential candidates.

[All Blacks nil]

As we all know its tradition to bring an uncapped player on the Lions tour. But who will it be? I can see two Irish in contention at this moment. Kildare man Adam Byrne and Michaels' Dan Leavy who I've been hugely impressed with. Would love to hear more thoughts especially from our English, Scottish and Welsh friends on who they've flagged as potential candidates.

Firstly I think you are mixing the Lions with the Babas by saying it is traditional to select an uncapped player. Yes, it happens and Will Greenwood and Brynmore Williams spring to mind but it is not the usual practice.
Having said that I expect Gatland to read these boards and immediately select Byrne, O'Loughlin and Porter. Leavy is already capped but he should go as well. If Billy Dardis fulfills his potential he will probably be on the boat as well. Exciting times

[Experimental]

Leavy has indeed got a cap, thanks All blacks nil! My bad, so guess he'll have to make it on merit.

[MunsterSugar]

I know he's capped but rumours Niall Scannell is a serious consideration in UK

As for uncapped that Rugby League lad with Sale has been mentioned by Gatland a few times

[Dave Cahill]

As we all know its tradition to bring an uncapped player on the Lions tour. But who will it be? I can see two Irish in contention at this moment. Kildare man Adam Byrne and Michaels' Dan Leavy who I've been hugely impressed with. Would love to hear more thoughts especially from our English, Scottish and Welsh friends on who they've flagged as potential candidates.

Firstly I think you are mixing the Lions with the Babas by saying it is traditional to select an uncapped player. Yes, it happens and Will Greenwood and Brynmore Williams spring to mind but it is not the usual practice.
Having said that I expect Gatland to read these boards and immediately select Byrne, O'Loughlin and Porter. Leavy is already capped but he should go as well. If Billy Dardis fulfills his potential he will probably be on the boat as well. Exciting times

yep, the Lions have no such tradition, its the Barbarians who do and people often mix them up, something a certain Bommer used to play off!

[Ruckedtobits]

It's certainly not a Lions 'tradition', but the Lions selectors from time to time have pulled a 'rabbit out of the hat'.

1971 to NZ: Peter Dixon - Eng uncapped back-row
1974 to SA: None
1977 to NZ: Elgan Rees, Brynmor Williams, Alun Lewis - all Welsh and Lewis never capped.
1980 to SA: None;
1983 to NZ: Nigel Melville - Eng scrum-half, uncapped before Tour.
1989 to Oz: None
1993 to NZ: None
1997 to SA: Will Greenwood - Eng centre, upcapped before Tour
2001 to Oz: None
2005 to NZ: None
2009 to SA: None
2013 to Aus: None.

So, none in recent history but the majority in the past 40 years have been good calls with the sole, unique, exception being Alun Lewis.

[BlueStreak]

It's certainly not a Lions 'tradition', but the Lions selectors from time to time have pulled a 'rabbit out of the hat'.

1971 to NZ: Peter Dixon - Eng uncapped back-row
1974 to SA: None
1977 to NZ: Elgan Rees, Brynmor Williams, Alun Lewis - all Welsh and Lewis never capped.
1980 to SA: None;
1983 to NZ: Nigel Melville - Eng scrum-half, uncapped before Tour.
1989 to Oz: None
1993 to NZ: None
1997 to SA: Will Greenwood - Eng centre, upcapped before Tour
2001 to Oz: None
2005 to NZ: None
2009 to SA: None
2013 to Aus: None.

So, none in recent history but the majority in the past 40 years have been good calls with the sole, unique, exception being Alun Lewis.

Would Keith Earls be deserving of a place on that list? Only two caps (one start) for Ireland before being selected in 2009

[fourthirtythree]

No.

[All Blacks nil]

It's certainly not a Lions 'tradition', but the Lions selectors from time to time have pulled a 'rabbit out of the hat'.

1971 to NZ: Peter Dixon - Eng uncapped back-row
1974 to SA: None
1977 to NZ: Elgan Rees, Brynmor Williams, Alun Lewis - all Welsh and Lewis never capped.
1980 to SA: None;
1983 to NZ: Nigel Melville - Eng scrum-half, uncapped before Tour.
1989 to Oz: None
1993 to NZ: None
1997 to SA: Will Greenwood - Eng centre, upcapped before Tour
2001 to Oz: None
2005 to NZ: None
2009 to SA: None
2013 to Aus: None.

So, none in recent history but the majority in the past 40 years have been good calls with the sole, unique, exception being Alun Lewis.

Would Keith Earls be deserving of a place on that list? Only two caps (one start) for Ireland before being selected in 2009

Would the twice capped Keith Earls be deserving of a place in a list of uncapped players?

[neiliog93]

As we all know its tradition to bring an uncapped player on the Lions tour. But who will it be? I can see two Irish in contention at this moment. Kildare man Adam Byrne and Michaels' Dan Leavy who I've been hugely impressed with. Would love to hear more thoughts especially from our English, Scottish and Welsh friends on who they've flagged as potential candidates.

Firstly I think you are mixing the Lions with the Babas by saying it is traditional to select an uncapped player. Yes, it happens and Will Greenwood and Brynmore Williams spring to mind but it is not the usual practice.
Having said that I expect Gatland to read these boards and immediately select Byrne, O'Loughlin and Porter. Leavy is already capped but he should go as well. If Billy Dardis fulfills his potential he will probably be on the boat as well. Exciting times

And while we're at it we can throw in all the 'young talent' in Munster who are actually in their late 20s.

[simonokeeffe]

Keith Earls name keeps getting kicked around lists of uncapped players on Lions tour by English twitterati even though its false

[Golf Man]

As we all know its tradition to bring an uncapped player on the Lions tour. But who will it be? I can see two Irish in contention at this moment. Kildare man Adam Byrne and Michaels' Dan Leavy who I've been hugely impressed with. Would love to hear more thoughts especially from our English, Scottish and Welsh friends on who they've flagged as potential candidates.

Firstly I think you are mixing the Lions with the Babas by saying it is traditional to select an uncapped player. Yes, it happens and Will Greenwood and Brynmore Williams spring to mind but it is not the usual practice.
Having said that I expect Gatland to read these boards and immediately select Byrne, O'Loughlin and Porter. Leavy is already capped but he should go as well. If Billy Dardis fulfills his potential he will probably be on the boat as well. Exciting times

And while we're at it we can throw in all the 'young talent' in Munster who are actually in their late 20s.

It took 10 f***ing posts

[Golf Man]

There may be a bolter or two, rather than an uncapped guy

From Ireland - Ringrose and Scannell are really the only two I'd put in there - suppose you could see Dillane as a possible bolter

Hamish Watson is a potential bolter

Fagerson/Genge at prop possibly

Moriarty in backrow

Denny Solomona in the backs or possibly Teo

[Flash Gordon]

There may be a bolter or two, rather than an uncapped guy

From Ireland - Ringrose and Scannell are really the only two I'd put in there - suppose you could see Dillane as a possible bolter

Hamish Watson is a potential bolter

Fagerson/Genge at prop possibly

Moriarty in backrow

Denny Solomona in the backs or possibly Teo

I had JVF as a bolter pre 6 nations, the injury obviously hasn't helped. Byrne maybe but yo be honest, I think as the game moves on and becomes more formulaic the prospect of a bolter coming thorugh is less likely.

Either way please don't let it be Teo....

[Golf Man]

Agree - I listed a bunch of guys but in reality I don't see any of them going. Might be a few unlikely injury call ups.

The bolters from the last tour were arguably Vunipola (think he had about 10 caps but only one start prior to the tour) and Matt Stevens, who was just a weird left field pick. Ian Evans was an unusual selection, but not exactly a bolter.

Agree on Teo but he imo is one of the most likely bolters - looks like a real Gatland type, and covers 12 and 13

[CiaranIrl]

I think it's more that the Lions usualy have a pretty young, raw talent that wasn't necessarily first choice for their country in the previous 6 nations. They make them carry around that stupid stuffed toy. Earls did fit the bill there in 09.

One of the finest things from around that time was this blog: http://irishlions.blogspot.ie/?m=1

Had me cracking up. If they would do it again, I'd absolutely pay to read it.

[Grumpy Old Man]

I think it's more that the Lions usualy have a pretty young, raw talent that wasn't necessarily first choice for their country in the previous 6 nations. They make them carry around that stupid stuffed toy. Earls did fit the bill there in 09.

One of the finest things from around that time was this blog: http://irishlions.blogspot.ie/?m=1

Had me cracking up. If they would do it again, I'd absolutely pay to read it.

i'd forgotten those - brilliant!

[Dave Cahill]

Chuppa Chups!

[Oldschoolsocks]

I think it's more that the Lions usualy have a pretty young, raw talent that wasn't necessarily first choice for their country in the previous 6 nations. They make them carry around that stupid stuffed toy. Earls did fit the bill there in 09.

One of the finest things from around that time was this blog: http://irishlions.blogspot.ie/?m=1

Had me cracking up. If they would do it again, I'd absolutely pay to read it.

Mascot is carried by either the youngest or most ginger.

[neiliog93]

Kyle Sinckler at tight-head is a potential bolter, in an area where the Lions lack depth. Will Greenwood keeps picking Adam Byrne in his Lions teams but it's not going to happen.