Letters reveal Scots are in frame for Lions tour

SEVERAL Scotland players have received letters confirming them as part of a wider British and Irish Lions squad, raising hopes that the recent Six Nations Championship may have increased the size of the Scottish contingent.

The Scotsman understands that Edinburgh quartet Greig Laidlaw, Matt Scott, Tim Visser and Ross Ford are among those to have received letters this week, ahead of Tuesday’s Lions squad announcement in London. The letters are designed to ensure legal requirements are fulfilled in advance of the tour party leaving for Hong Kong in just over four weeks’ time.

Glasgow prop Ryan Grant and Stuart Hogg, the full-back, and Sale lock Richie Gray are also believed to have received the letters, and while some who have been contacted may not make the initial tour party, they will form part of the reserve list ready to step in if another player is ruled out.

The Lions head coach Warren Gatland will sit down on Monday with fellow coaches Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell from England and Wales’ Rob Howley to finalise his squad before announcing the 36 or 37 names in London on Tuesday morning.

Scotland had five players on the last tour to Australia in 2001, but there were just three Scots named in Sir Clive Woodward’s initial squad in 2005 – Gordon Bulloch, Simon Taylor and Chris Cusiter – and Jason White made it four when he was called up during the tour. Four Scots also featured in the 2009 tour to South Africa – Euan Murray, Nathan Hines, Mike Blair and Ross Ford – and there were fears that Scotland could drop below that after the autumn Test whitewash and the resignation of Andy Robinson.

They may still, but improvement under Scott Johnson may have enhanced the chances of a handful of performers. Gatland will inform his chosen captain of his selection on Monday, but the rest of the players will discover whether they are in or out on Tuesday through the media.