Solomona deserves Lions place - Healey

Denny Solomona should be part of Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad after his sensational start to life in rugby union, according to Austin Healey.

The Sale Sharks winger has been in explosive form since his code switch from Castleford Tigers, scoring eight tries in five games.

After his hat-trick against leaders Wasps on Sunday there were calls for Solomona to be called up by England coach Eddie Jones, with Sale coach Steve Diamond saying the New Zealand-born flyer would be eligible in “three or four weeks” on the three-year residency rule.

Healey has gone one step further, though, and called for the 23-year-old to be part of the Lions squad who will play three Tests in New Zealand in June.

“He’s very physical and positionally sound and he scores tries in confined spaces that other wingers wouldn’t finish,” Healey said, as quoted by The Mirror.

“People will say ‘give him time to find his feet in union’ but why? I already think he’s good enough make the Lions squad.

“Who better is there to match against New Zealand wing Julian Savea? I accept he’s an outside bet in terms of experience but Jason Robinson had hardly any in 2001 and that didn’t go too badly.

“Personally Solomona and Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor would be my two Lions bolters.”