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A full 2021 Lions side that have fallen out of Test contention
It’s been a little under 2.5 years since the British & Irish Lions toured South Africa but that’s a long time in professional sport and rugby union is no different.
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The increased squad size of touring parties in the professional era and the fickle nature of modern rugby selection means that you go from being a British & Irish Lion one year to not making your national team the next.
Here we look at 15 players that featured on tour but have since fallen away from Test selection, for one reason or another.
1. Wyn Jones
One of the surprise stars of the tours, who started the third Test in Cape Town, Jones has fallen away rather precipitously and is no longer part of the Wales squad, while at Scarlets fallen behind Kemsley Mathias in the pecking order at loosehead.
2. Ken Owens
Owens has been in injury purgatory since the Lions and at 37, it could yet be the end of the line for ‘The Sheriff’.
3. Kyle Sinckler
Sinckler was on the bench for all three Lions Tests in 2021 but so-so form has meant that the Bristol tighthead has since dropped out of the England squad entirely for this Guinness Six Nations.
4. Jonny Hill
Injuries certainly haven’t helped, but prior to his most recent injury for Sale Sharks, it’s fair to say that Hill had fallen away from Test contention. A Lions bolter in 2021, Hill is yet the refind the form that saw him called up by Warren Gatland ahead of the likes of James Ryan.
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5. Alun Wyn Jones
The most capped rugby player of all time retired from international rugby in 2023, before enjoying a brief stint with Toulon.
6. Justin Tipuric
Like Jones, Tipuric announced his retirement from international rugby in 2023, although he’s still playing for the Ospreys. There was a suggestion that his dropping during the Six Nations had played a role in his decision to step away from Test rugby at a relatively young age.
7. Hamish Watson
If you told a Scotland fan that Watson wouldn’t be selected for the 2024 Six Nations squad back in 2021, they wouldn’t have believed, but so it’s transpired. The emergence of Rory Darge and Luke Crosbie has meant the all-action back row has been pushed out of the squad.
8. Sam Simmonds
Despite phenomenal Premiership form for Exeter Chiefs, Simmonds could never quite crack the England starting XV under Eddie Jones and already had set his eyes on France and Montpellier by the time Steve Borthwick’s reign began. With the rise of the somewhat similiar Ben Earl there is no guarantee he would be playing for England even if he had stayed.
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9. Ali Price
Although still part of the Scotland set-up, he’s yet to feature in either of Gregor Townsend’s first two matchday 23s and seems to be firmly behind Ben White and George Horne.
10. Dan Biggar
Biggar retired from international duty after the Rugby World Cup and is currently sidelined for Toulon with a back injury. It’s rumoured that the injury could force him into retirement from the game entirely, with Toulon looking at flyhalf options to replace him.
11. Louis Rees Zammit
The Welsh flyer has left rugby union for a tilt at the NFL with the International Player Pathway. A bold move, but at 22 years of age, he certainly has time on his side.
12. Owen Farrell
The England star has exiled himself from international rugby by taking a break from the Test arena. An impending transfer to Racing 92 in Paris suggests it could, perhaps, ultimately be a permanent absence unless the RFU give Borthwick the option of selecting him next season.
13. Chris Harris
Although a still vital cog in Gloucester, Harris has gone from one of the surprise packages of the South Africa tour to no longer being involved with Scotland.
14. Liam Williams
Williams has gone to Japan on a big money deal but claims he has not given up on international rugby just yet, even if he won’t feature in this year’s Six Nations.
15. Stuart Hogg
Hogg announced his shock retirement just prior to the Rugby World Cup and has since tipped his toe into media with TNT Sports, among others.
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments