'Great tourist' backed to beat Jamieson Gibson-Park to Lions Test jersey

George Skivington believes Tomos Williams’s brilliant form for Gloucester can win him the British and Irish Lions No.9 jersey on the three-Test tour of Australia this summer.

Williams is one of just two Welsh players in the tour party – Jac Morgan of Ospreys is the other – and it has been his attacking flair and rapid service from the breakdown that have enabled Gloucester to become a try-scoring force in the Premiership.

It was a scintillating Williams break that triggered the bonus-point try in the 26–12 win over Newcastle, a result that keeps them in the hunt for a play-off place.

Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park is favourite to wear the Test jersey for the Lions, with England’s Alex Mitchell also in the frame, but Skivington, the Gloucester director of rugby, is confident his man’s personality will blossom along with his form in Australia.

He explained: “He will be a great tourist because he knows the balance of having fun and working hard and I wouldn’t be surprised if Tomos doesn’t push his way through (to the tests) on the tour when people get to know him and his energy. It will be fascinating to see who is the starting No.9 when it comes to the tests. Tomos in amongst the best players in the British Isles, I think people will be surprised what level he can go to.

“It was a conscious bit of recruitment to bring in Tomos and we tried to play this type of game last season and realised we weren’t really in a position to do it so you have the right chemistry in the building and Tomos was a very deliberate signing to get our game faster and he has delivered that this season. He is helping Gloucester finish strong and then we can all sit back with a beer and watch him on the Lions tour.”