Wales Players Must Be Ready If Lions Call - Evans

Wales fable Ieuan Evans has urged his countrymen overlooked for nan British and Irish Lions circuit to Australia to guarantee they are fresh for call-ups successful nan arena of injuries to nan party.

Andy Farrell named only 2 Welshmen successful his 38-strong squad, Wales skipper and flanker Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams, nan fewest from nan federation since nan 5th Lions circuit successful 1903.

Since nan extremity of World War Two nan lowest number of Welshmen to circuit had been five, to New Zealand successful 1993 pinch Evans, now Lions chairman, among them.

Speaking aft announcing nan 2025 circuit party, Evans said he was "disappointed" for his countrymen, whose 17-match losing tally helped guarantee acold greater practice from Ireland, England and Scotland.

"This is astir Andy Farrell and his squad selecting nan very champion players pinch nan very champion move to fresh going connected a British and Irish Lions tour, pinch each nan challenges of playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday and having that fresh together," he said.

He added: "Even getting into nan operation of action is challenging to statesman with, but past to find your measurement to really get connected nan plane; but things do change, things happen, injuries and truthful on, truthful you've sewage to beryllium fresh for that.

"Now that situation for nan group of players successful Wales to conflict for nan adjacent tour, but besides making judge you execute now because you ne'er cognize what's going to hap connected that circuit [to Australia].

"I've been connected capable tours to cognize things change, injuries happen."

Cardiff seasoned Taulupe Faletau, a three-time tourist, Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake, Exeter fastener and skipper Dafydd Jenkins, Dragons backmost statement Aaron Wainwright and Scarlets back-three prima Blair Murray were touted arsenic imaginable Lions for nan coming tour.

But nary made nan cut, leaving only Wales skipper Morgan and Gloucester's ex-Cardiff half-back Williams to triumph Farrell's vote.

Evans says his chap countrymen person nan chance to make their people and gain Test places.

"It's a blank expanse of insubstantial and they commencement from scratch," said nan erstwhile Llanelli and Bath wing.

He added: "It's now astir forcing your measurement into Test action and that's by forging combinations, partnerships and impressing nan coaches erstwhile you're retired location pinch your performances and your training.

"That's nan adjacent situation for this group of players and I'm judge nan Welsh players will do precisely that."

Morgan was connected a formation that had landed successful South Africa pinch Ospreys erstwhile he discovered he was to go a Lion.

He said aft a "tough mates of years" it was a "massive honour" to gain a Lions spot.

He added: "I didn't really expect anything, really, particularly pinch nan title successful nan backmost row... nan title is massive."

Williams was astatine location and said: "I person sewage to admit I did shed a tear.

"The past 2 days I've been an affectional wreck. Grateful for my parents, my partner Laura and everyone who has helped me.

"The apical of nan mountain. You cannot get overmuch higher than this achievement.

"I'll get a spot of instrumentality for this, nary doubt."

Former Wales centre Jamie Roberts, an awesome Lions tourer successful 2009 and 2013. echoed Evans' thoughts, saying Wales' debased practice was "a reflection" of wherever Wales are and injuries could yet let opportunities to arise.

He added: "But for Jac and Tomos, I mean, we're ace proud to person those lads connected tour.

"They've some been successful good shape nan past season, and rightly, deservedly, person been selected for their first tours.

"I deliberation our ambition arsenic a Welsh rugby federation is that we accelerated guardant to 4 years time, and hopefully we summation connected that number and we look to nan future."