Wales legend Ieuan Evans has urged his countrymen overlooked for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia to ensure they are ready for call-ups in the event of injuries to the party.
Andy Farrell named only two Welshmen in his 38-strong squad, Wales captain and flanker Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams, the fewest from the nation since the fifth Lions tour in 1903.
Since the end of World War Two the lowest number of Welshmen to tour had been five, to New Zealand in 1993 with Evans, now Lions chairman, among them.
Speaking after announcing the 2025 tour party, Evans said he was “disappointed” for his countrymen, whose 17-match losing run helped ensure far greater representation from Ireland, England and Scotland.
“This is about Andy Farrell and his team selecting the very best players with the very best dynamic to fit going on a British and Irish Lions tour, with all the challenges of playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday and having that fit together,” he said.
He added: “Even getting into the mix of selection is challenging to begin with, but then to find your way to actually get on the plane; but things do change, things happen, injuries and so on, so you’ve got to be ready for that.
“Now that challenge for the group of players in Wales to fight for the next tour, but also making sure you perform now because you never know what’s going to happen on that tour [to Australia].
“I’ve been on enough tours to know things change, injuries happen.”
Cardiff veteran Taulupe Faletau, a three-time tourist, Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake, Exeter lock and captain Dafydd Jenkins, Dragons back row Aaron Wainwright and Scarlets back-three star Blair Murray were touted as potential Lions for the coming tour.
But none made the cut, leaving only Wales captain Morgan and Gloucester’s ex-Cardiff half-back Williams to win Farrell’s vote.
