Scots in the frame for 2021 Lions tour to South Africa

Eight contenders to take on the world champion Springboks

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg was picked for the last two Lions tours. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

GREGOR TOWNSEND

Scotland head coach turned down the chance to be part of Warren Gatland’s team in 2017 after just taking over his new job and only being offered an assistant attack/backs coach role. If Scotland continue to perform well a more prominent assistant role may come along. Townsend has played it down but a return to the scene of his 1997 Lions Test series triumph would be a big lure.

STUART HOGG

Scotland’s star player, he has been on the past two Lions tours and was slated for a Test spot in New Zealand before injury intervened. A big season for Exeter Chiefs and Scotland would see the dynamic former Glasgow man in pole for the No 15 jersey.

FINN RUSSELL

Hopefully will be reintegrated into the Scotland set-up soon after the falling out at the start of the year. His sizzling form for Racing 92 has him as many peoples’ pick for the playmaker role in South Africa, although the likes of George Ford and Owen Farrell would naturally be major rivals. He had a brief cameo as an injury call-up on the New Zealand tour three years ago.

JONNY GRAY

The third member of Scotland’s Big Three, he missed out on New Zealand due to a feeling he wasn’t quite battle-hardened enough for the rigours of a Lions tour in what is always a highly competitive position. With another four years’ experience under his belt and the chance after his big move to Exeter Chiefs to be playing for silverware in both the English Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, it could propel him into contention this time to emulate his older brother Richie who came off the bench in the third Test against Australia in 2013.

HAMISH WATSON

Gatland was said to be keen last time but he just missed out. The Edinburgh openside has been one of Scotland’s key weapons in recent years with his tackle-defying line breaks and is sure to be in the mix next summer. The 28-year-old has pushed on to 32 caps since his debut in 2015 and his injury in the opening World Cup match against Ireland was a severe blow.

ZANDER FAGERSON

A young tighthead with a good bank of international experience in international rugby is a rare breed but the 24-year-old Glasgow Warriors prop continues to make excellent progress. A mobile athlete who is also a solid scrummager he would relish the challenge of facing the Springboks on their own patch after missing out this summer with the cancellation of the Scotland tour.

JAMIE RITCHIE

Arguably Scotland’s stand-out player over the past couple of years, the Edinburgh flanker has put in a series of towering performances in big games for the national team while also helping fire the Richard Cockerill revolution in the capital. If he maintains the kind of consistency he has been showing he is sure to be on Gatland’s radar come selection time.

SAM JOHNSON

A long shot but since making his debut in the 2019 Six Nations has become one of the first men on Townsend’s team sheet for the major games, scoring three tries in 13 caps. Having the Scotland boss and man who signed him from Australia for Glasgow Warriors on the selection panel would increase his chances.

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