Wales stars must 'want a piece of Lions action'

BBC News

3 hours ago

British and Irish Lions' Welsh chairman Ieuan Evans has urged Jac Morgan's leading compatriots to set their sights on making the 2029 tour to New Zealand.Morgan was originally one of only two Welshmen in the touring squad and won two caps off the bench as Andy Farrell's side beat Australia 2-1.He scored a try in Saturday's final Test defeat in Sydney and was at the centre of the tour's most controversial moment in the second.Morgan's clearout on Carlo Tizzano at a ruck in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's winning second-Test try was deemed legal.Debate over that incident has continued to rage, but Evans wants Morgan's impact at home to serve as inspiration.'That needs to drive players to say 'ok, I want a piece of the action. I want to be playing in four years time in New Zealand'," said former Wales and Lions wing Evans. "Fingers crossed that the future is bright for Welsh rugby and the Welsh national team.''
Farrell named Morgan and Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams in his original squad, but the latter was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening game in Australia.The Ospreys star was omitted from the first Test, but after entering the fray in the second in Melbourne, played a crucial part in the late drama that sealed the series.''If you weren't captured by the drama of that second Test at the MCG then, quite frankly, you haven't got a soul," said Evans. "That was exactly what a sporting legacy is all about, that's what sport is supposed to do at such an iconic venue as the MCG.'''If I'd have had a lifestyle watch on at the time, 'it'd have probably told me to go to ER very, very quickly. "But we got the result and it was a remarkable performance and again, one of character.''
Goodwill from the players 'important'
While there are no plans to move away from the traditional touring schedule of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Evans says a full review of the past few weeks will take place. The Lions are open to freshening up the tour format to bolster the matches before the Test series, which were largely underwhelming in Australia.''Obviously New Zealand brings different parameters around touring. But the players have had a great time and we'll make sure that's the case because that goodwill from the players, is really important and you've got to keep replenishing that. "You can't rely on it because hubris gets everybody eventually. You can't just assume that this is the norm and everybody is going to love this for eternity. "We'll look, we'll assess, so we can do things differently.''