Latest news with #Kinghorn
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
The horse listener: a life spent teaching kids to ride
Veteran horseman John Kinghorn learnt everything he knows by sitting on the tailgates of trucks listening to old blokes chat. From his grandfather, who once rode a horse 1000km from central-western NSW to Brisbane, he knew to never ride through a river in the afternoon. "If your gear gets wet, you don't get it dry (before) nightfall," Mr Kinghorn told AAP. "Wait until the morning, then you've got all day to dry it out." It was also old blokes who taught him to approach an unfamiliar horse with his hands in his pockets to avoid spooking it, and how to braid the perfect stock rope. His father, a drover from Cudal, a village west of Orange, taught him that a stubborn animal can be handled through observing and listening. "An animal can't talk to you, but it can tell you things," Mr Kinghorn said. "I often say to young riders: 'What's this horse telling you? Nothing? Then you're not listening'." After six decades volunteering in country NSW pony clubs, the 86-year-old reluctantly admits he might just be one of those old blokes passing on pearls of wisdom. Mr Kinghorn was on Sunday announced as the recipient of a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List, for services to youth through equestrian sports. He competed in showjumping and polocrosse as a young man before working at pony clubs in Orange, Carcoar, Cudal and Sydney, teaching three generations of riders. Children learn responsibility and empathy from caring for horses, Mr Kinghorn said. "If you've got a pushbike and you've finished with it, you put it in the garage and forget about it. "If you've got a horse you can't do that, you've got to look after him. "Most of the young riders I've taught have gone on to be pretty decent people." It is warmth that helps young people learn rather than strict instruction, though some have been initially intimidated by his dry humour. "I always say to them: 'I do have a heart - I know a bloke who has seen it'," Mr Kinghorn said, a joke he came up with after a life-saving surgery about a decade ago. Many regional Australians were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions across science, emergency services, culture, sport, education and the arts. Victorian broadcaster Jim Remedio, a Torres Strait Islander man from Bendigo, was posthumously appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to First Nations media and to the Indigenous community. Former headmaster Christopher Tudor, from Alice Springs, was appointed an AO for distinguished service to education and to people with a disability and their carers. Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, was awarded an OAM for her work in refugee advocacy, having co-founded the #HometoBilo campaign to stop the deportation of the local Nadesalingam family. Veteran horseman John Kinghorn learnt everything he knows by sitting on the tailgates of trucks listening to old blokes chat. From his grandfather, who once rode a horse 1000km from central-western NSW to Brisbane, he knew to never ride through a river in the afternoon. "If your gear gets wet, you don't get it dry (before) nightfall," Mr Kinghorn told AAP. "Wait until the morning, then you've got all day to dry it out." It was also old blokes who taught him to approach an unfamiliar horse with his hands in his pockets to avoid spooking it, and how to braid the perfect stock rope. His father, a drover from Cudal, a village west of Orange, taught him that a stubborn animal can be handled through observing and listening. "An animal can't talk to you, but it can tell you things," Mr Kinghorn said. "I often say to young riders: 'What's this horse telling you? Nothing? Then you're not listening'." After six decades volunteering in country NSW pony clubs, the 86-year-old reluctantly admits he might just be one of those old blokes passing on pearls of wisdom. Mr Kinghorn was on Sunday announced as the recipient of a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List, for services to youth through equestrian sports. He competed in showjumping and polocrosse as a young man before working at pony clubs in Orange, Carcoar, Cudal and Sydney, teaching three generations of riders. Children learn responsibility and empathy from caring for horses, Mr Kinghorn said. "If you've got a pushbike and you've finished with it, you put it in the garage and forget about it. "If you've got a horse you can't do that, you've got to look after him. "Most of the young riders I've taught have gone on to be pretty decent people." It is warmth that helps young people learn rather than strict instruction, though some have been initially intimidated by his dry humour. "I always say to them: 'I do have a heart - I know a bloke who has seen it'," Mr Kinghorn said, a joke he came up with after a life-saving surgery about a decade ago. Many regional Australians were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions across science, emergency services, culture, sport, education and the arts. Victorian broadcaster Jim Remedio, a Torres Strait Islander man from Bendigo, was posthumously appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to First Nations media and to the Indigenous community. Former headmaster Christopher Tudor, from Alice Springs, was appointed an AO for distinguished service to education and to people with a disability and their carers. Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, was awarded an OAM for her work in refugee advocacy, having co-founded the #HometoBilo campaign to stop the deportation of the local Nadesalingam family. Veteran horseman John Kinghorn learnt everything he knows by sitting on the tailgates of trucks listening to old blokes chat. From his grandfather, who once rode a horse 1000km from central-western NSW to Brisbane, he knew to never ride through a river in the afternoon. "If your gear gets wet, you don't get it dry (before) nightfall," Mr Kinghorn told AAP. "Wait until the morning, then you've got all day to dry it out." It was also old blokes who taught him to approach an unfamiliar horse with his hands in his pockets to avoid spooking it, and how to braid the perfect stock rope. His father, a drover from Cudal, a village west of Orange, taught him that a stubborn animal can be handled through observing and listening. "An animal can't talk to you, but it can tell you things," Mr Kinghorn said. "I often say to young riders: 'What's this horse telling you? Nothing? Then you're not listening'." After six decades volunteering in country NSW pony clubs, the 86-year-old reluctantly admits he might just be one of those old blokes passing on pearls of wisdom. Mr Kinghorn was on Sunday announced as the recipient of a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List, for services to youth through equestrian sports. He competed in showjumping and polocrosse as a young man before working at pony clubs in Orange, Carcoar, Cudal and Sydney, teaching three generations of riders. Children learn responsibility and empathy from caring for horses, Mr Kinghorn said. "If you've got a pushbike and you've finished with it, you put it in the garage and forget about it. "If you've got a horse you can't do that, you've got to look after him. "Most of the young riders I've taught have gone on to be pretty decent people." It is warmth that helps young people learn rather than strict instruction, though some have been initially intimidated by his dry humour. "I always say to them: 'I do have a heart - I know a bloke who has seen it'," Mr Kinghorn said, a joke he came up with after a life-saving surgery about a decade ago. Many regional Australians were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions across science, emergency services, culture, sport, education and the arts. Victorian broadcaster Jim Remedio, a Torres Strait Islander man from Bendigo, was posthumously appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to First Nations media and to the Indigenous community. Former headmaster Christopher Tudor, from Alice Springs, was appointed an AO for distinguished service to education and to people with a disability and their carers. Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, was awarded an OAM for her work in refugee advocacy, having co-founded the #HometoBilo campaign to stop the deportation of the local Nadesalingam family. Veteran horseman John Kinghorn learnt everything he knows by sitting on the tailgates of trucks listening to old blokes chat. From his grandfather, who once rode a horse 1000km from central-western NSW to Brisbane, he knew to never ride through a river in the afternoon. "If your gear gets wet, you don't get it dry (before) nightfall," Mr Kinghorn told AAP. "Wait until the morning, then you've got all day to dry it out." It was also old blokes who taught him to approach an unfamiliar horse with his hands in his pockets to avoid spooking it, and how to braid the perfect stock rope. His father, a drover from Cudal, a village west of Orange, taught him that a stubborn animal can be handled through observing and listening. "An animal can't talk to you, but it can tell you things," Mr Kinghorn said. "I often say to young riders: 'What's this horse telling you? Nothing? Then you're not listening'." After six decades volunteering in country NSW pony clubs, the 86-year-old reluctantly admits he might just be one of those old blokes passing on pearls of wisdom. Mr Kinghorn was on Sunday announced as the recipient of a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List, for services to youth through equestrian sports. He competed in showjumping and polocrosse as a young man before working at pony clubs in Orange, Carcoar, Cudal and Sydney, teaching three generations of riders. Children learn responsibility and empathy from caring for horses, Mr Kinghorn said. "If you've got a pushbike and you've finished with it, you put it in the garage and forget about it. "If you've got a horse you can't do that, you've got to look after him. "Most of the young riders I've taught have gone on to be pretty decent people." It is warmth that helps young people learn rather than strict instruction, though some have been initially intimidated by his dry humour. "I always say to them: 'I do have a heart - I know a bloke who has seen it'," Mr Kinghorn said, a joke he came up with after a life-saving surgery about a decade ago. Many regional Australians were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions across science, emergency services, culture, sport, education and the arts. Victorian broadcaster Jim Remedio, a Torres Strait Islander man from Bendigo, was posthumously appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to First Nations media and to the Indigenous community. Former headmaster Christopher Tudor, from Alice Springs, was appointed an AO for distinguished service to education and to people with a disability and their carers. Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, was awarded an OAM for her work in refugee advocacy, having co-founded the #HometoBilo campaign to stop the deportation of the local Nadesalingam family.
West Australian
2 days ago
- General
- West Australian
The horse listener: a life spent teaching kids to ride
Veteran horseman John Kinghorn learnt everything he knows by sitting on the tailgates of trucks listening to old blokes chat. From his grandfather, who once rode a horse 1000km from central-western NSW to Brisbane, he knew to never ride through a river in the afternoon. "If your gear gets wet, you don't get it dry (before) nightfall," Mr Kinghorn told AAP. "Wait until the morning, then you've got all day to dry it out." It was also old blokes who taught him to approach an unfamiliar horse with his hands in his pockets to avoid spooking it, and how to braid the perfect stock rope. His father, a drover from Cudal, a village west of Orange, taught him that a stubborn animal can be handled through observing and listening. "An animal can't talk to you, but it can tell you things," Mr Kinghorn said. "I often say to young riders: 'What's this horse telling you? Nothing? Then you're not listening'." After six decades volunteering in country NSW pony clubs, the 86-year-old reluctantly admits he might just be one of those old blokes passing on pearls of wisdom. Mr Kinghorn was on Sunday announced as the recipient of a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List, for services to youth through equestrian sports. He competed in showjumping and polocrosse as a young man before working at pony clubs in Orange, Carcoar, Cudal and Sydney, teaching three generations of riders. Children learn responsibility and empathy from caring for horses, Mr Kinghorn said. "If you've got a pushbike and you've finished with it, you put it in the garage and forget about it. "If you've got a horse you can't do that, you've got to look after him. "Most of the young riders I've taught have gone on to be pretty decent people." It is warmth that helps young people learn rather than strict instruction, though some have been initially intimidated by his dry humour. "I always say to them: 'I do have a heart - I know a bloke who has seen it'," Mr Kinghorn said, a joke he came up with after a life-saving surgery about a decade ago. Many regional Australians were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions across science, emergency services, culture, sport, education and the arts. Victorian broadcaster Jim Remedio, a Torres Strait Islander man from Bendigo, was posthumously appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to First Nations media and to the Indigenous community. Former headmaster Christopher Tudor, from Alice Springs, was appointed an AO for distinguished service to education and to people with a disability and their carers. Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, was awarded an OAM for her work in refugee advocacy, having co-founded the #HometoBilo campaign to stop the deportation of the local Nadesalingam family.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
The horse listener: a life spent teaching kids to ride
Veteran horseman John Kinghorn learnt everything he knows by sitting on the tailgates of trucks listening to old blokes chat. From his grandfather, who once rode a horse 1000km from central-western NSW to Brisbane, he knew to never ride through a river in the afternoon. "If your gear gets wet, you don't get it dry (before) nightfall," Mr Kinghorn told AAP. "Wait until the morning, then you've got all day to dry it out." It was also old blokes who taught him to approach an unfamiliar horse with his hands in his pockets to avoid spooking it, and how to braid the perfect stock rope. His father, a drover from Cudal, a village west of Orange, taught him that a stubborn animal can be handled through observing and listening. "An animal can't talk to you, but it can tell you things," Mr Kinghorn said. "I often say to young riders: 'What's this horse telling you? Nothing? Then you're not listening'." After six decades volunteering in country NSW pony clubs, the 86-year-old reluctantly admits he might just be one of those old blokes passing on pearls of wisdom. Mr Kinghorn was on Sunday announced as the recipient of a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours List, for services to youth through equestrian sports. He competed in showjumping and polocrosse as a young man before working at pony clubs in Orange, Carcoar, Cudal and Sydney, teaching three generations of riders. Children learn responsibility and empathy from caring for horses, Mr Kinghorn said. "If you've got a pushbike and you've finished with it, you put it in the garage and forget about it. "If you've got a horse you can't do that, you've got to look after him. "Most of the young riders I've taught have gone on to be pretty decent people." It is warmth that helps young people learn rather than strict instruction, though some have been initially intimidated by his dry humour. "I always say to them: 'I do have a heart - I know a bloke who has seen it'," Mr Kinghorn said, a joke he came up with after a life-saving surgery about a decade ago. Many regional Australians were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for their contributions across science, emergency services, culture, sport, education and the arts. Victorian broadcaster Jim Remedio, a Torres Strait Islander man from Bendigo, was posthumously appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to First Nations media and to the Indigenous community. Former headmaster Christopher Tudor, from Alice Springs, was appointed an AO for distinguished service to education and to people with a disability and their carers. Angela Fredericks, from Biloela in Queensland, was awarded an OAM for her work in refugee advocacy, having co-founded the #HometoBilo campaign to stop the deportation of the local Nadesalingam family.
The Courier
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Meet the Kinghorn family behind one of Scotland's most popular running races
For hundreds of runners the Black Rock '5' is a highlight of their race calendar. But for one Kinghorn family the iconic event defines their year, as important as Christmas. John McKay, 66, is the man behind the famous Fife beach race, one of Scotland's most popular running events. And his family help him make it happen year after year as it has grown from just over 60 competitors to around 1,200. Daughter Mairi, 32, says: 'We've grown up with it. It's part of the family. 'It's like birthdays and Christmas – this inevitable thing that's going to happen every year. 'And there's a huge feeling of pride of being involved.' John, a retired laboratory manager, was among just over 60 runners in the first ever Black Rock '5' in 1987. It was inspired by an oft-cited local challenge of 'race you to the rock'. In 1992 he became race director. The event has snowballed under his tenure. It's a unique race only possible when the tide is low enough for runners to wade round its usually submerged namesake between Kinghorn and Burntisland. Contrary to its name – guesswork at its inception – it's actually only around 4.6 miles. An exact distance is difficult to pinpoint as runners prefer the hardest sand to the most direct route. Although it's taken seriously by club runners, the Black Rock '5' has a party atmosphere. It's always on a Friday evening and finishers get beers rather than medals. It's so popular that bagging a race number is even more competitive vying for first place. All 1,200 places sold out within 14 minutes this year. So people are often surprised that such a large and successful event is run by a family rather than a sporting events company. Putting on such a major operation is no mean feat. 'Our year is split into two,' says John. 'Pre and post race.' And for him the pre-race part starts on the first day of the year. That's when he picks the Friday evening in May or June with just the right tide – no more than knee deep. 'After my dinner on January 1 I look at the tidal information. 'Sometimes I can see it straight away, sometimes I can't so you might find me out in the dark at 7.30pm, 8pm in the middle of January because that's when it will be the same tide I'm thinking about.' Only low water measuring no more than 1.2 metres will do, to allow runners round the rock safely. Continuing the Black Rock '5' family tradition, John would always check conditions were as predicted on the morning low tide of race day with his late brother-in-law Bill Tulloch. John's wife Margaret, 66, says: 'When Bill died 10 years ago his oldest daughter, June, took it upon herself to go with John to the rock on race mornings. 'She was on holiday this year so her two sisters, Gail and Jill, decided to surprise John and went with him instead. He thought he would be going alone.' The Bill Tulloch Award now goes to the first male runner to reach the rock. John spends several months ensuring everything from risk assessments and road closures to permits and portable toilets are in place. For the rest of the family – including Mairi's sisters Fiona, 40, and Catriona, 37 – race preparations ramp up when places go on sale six weeks before. And on race day, it's all hands to the deck to coordinate a team of around 50 volunteers. The McKays mark the occasion together before the operation commences. John says: 'I take the family and a few others out for lunch and that's it for the rest of the day. 'There's too much adrenaline and 'what ifs?' going on for me to eat after that.' 'Dad will get interrupted by three or four phones call at lunch!' laughs Mairi. ''That's the beers being delivered!'' Each family member has their job, whether it's ensuring all is shipshape at the finish line or handing out water, bananas and, of course, beer to exhausted runners. Margaret runs the 'naughty corner' in Kinghorn Community Centre, where lost or forgotten race numbers can be replaced. The family are immensely proud of what the Black Rock '5' does for Kinghorn. Money raised supports community causes. Local businesses, including pubs and the chip shop do a roaring trade on race night. The event spotlights the pretty coastal village. And they're proud of John for making it happen year after year. More than once he was referred to as a 'legend' last weekend. Mairi says: 'When I hear people talking about the Black Rock and I tell them my family organise it they're surprised. They think it must be organised by a company. 'There's a sense of pride that it comes off every year successfully and safely because of Dad. 'Imagine you tried to start something like this now. It works because it's grown organically.' Bagging the Black Rock '5' is almost a rite of passage for novice runners. Elite club runners strive each year to beat the course record of 21 minutes 51 seconds set in 2023. Locals see the event as a highlight of the village's social calendar. What makes it so special? 'The word unique does get used a lot,' says John. 'It [the Black Rock] is a lovely place to be. On an ordinary walk it can be extremely peaceful out there. And you've got fairly iconic sights.' The view of the Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing is enough to make competitors forget the effort of running across the vast expanse of Pettycur beach. Almost. 'I think it's a combination of the location, the atmosphere and community spirit,' reckons Mairi. Spectators line the route. Some make the long walk to the rock and clamber up with the piper who plays atop it. People who live along the route host Black Rock garden parties. 'Everybody buys into it,' says John. 'People say 'yes, you've shut my road and I can't move for two hours but I'm going to deal with that by getting my cowbell out and having a glass of wine'.'
Scotsman
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scotland's Lions squad contenders: Four certainties, a clutch of maybes and one bolter
Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... At the end of a long, gruelling season the biggest impediment to those players hoping to be on the British & Irish Lions plane to Australia is injury. Scotland's leading contenders seem to have been struck down in a particularly aggressive manner with Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn and Zander Fagerson all currently sidelined. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The good news is that Tuipulotu and Jones are close to a return and could even play this weekend for Glasgow Warriors against Benetton. The bad news is that van der Merwe, Fagerson and Kinghorn all face a little longer in the treatment room. Duhan van der Merwe and Huw Jones are two of Scotland's Lions hopefuls who are currently injured. | SNS Group Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach, will name his squad on Thursday and with 10 fixtures ahead of them it needs to be suitably robust. The demands placed on the world's best players are already enormous and the domestic campaigns in Europe afford no time off before the game's elite don their red jerseys. The finals of the United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership are scheduled for June 14, six days before the Lions play their first game against Argentina in Dublin for the 1888 Cup. The French season runs even later. The Top 14 final will take place in Paris on June 28, the same day the Lions are due to play Western Force at the Optus Stadium in Perth in their opening match on Australian soil. There is every likelihood that Kinghorn could be lining up with Toulouse at the Stade de France and joining up with the Lions a couple of days later. Hardly ideal but the French league cannot be expected to put the needs of the Lions above their own. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The bigger concern for Farrell will be around Kinghorn's knee injury because the full-back belongs to that small band of Scots who are nailed on to be in the squad if they can prove their fitness. The certainties Reports in France are generally upbeat about Kinghorn. The injury to his right knee is described as 'minor' and he should be fit to return at the end of May, with the convalescence period reckoned to be at least three weeks. He suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain while contesting a high ball against Castres and it caused him to miss the Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux on Sunday, a match Toulouse lost. Having given up their European crown, Toulouse will be all the more determined to retain the Top 14 title and they are currently 10 points clear of Bordeaux in the standings with four rounds of regular season fixtures remaining. Kinghorn could make his return at home to Lyon in the penultimate round on May 31. The semi-finals take place on June 20 and 21. The move to France from Edinburgh has supercharged Kinghorn. He won a league and Champions Cup double in his first season and enjoyed an outstanding Six Nations with Scotland this year, being one of four short-listed for player of the tournament. Louis Bielle-Biarrey took the award ahead of Kinghorn, England wing Tommy Freeman and Italy's Tommaso Menoncello but Kinghorn and Freeman's performances across the championship mean they are on course to not only be in Farrell's squad but Test starters against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19. Finn Russell is in contention to be a Lions starter. | SNS Group Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The same could be said of Finn Russell who has hardly put a foot wrong for Bath this season. Top of the Premiership and through to the Challenge Cup final, he is on the cusp of helping the famous club win major honours for the first time in 17 years. It is incredible to think that the most gifted Scottish player of his generation has still not started a Test match for the Lions but he deserves that opportunity on what would be his third tour. It will likely come down to a straight choice between Russell and Fin Smith, with two from three of England's other 10s - Marcus Smith, George Ford and Owen Farrell - also likely to be on the plane. Ireland's Sam Prendergast may have played himself out of contention in Leinster's Champions Cup defeat by Northampton. Sione Tuipulotu is back training with Glasgow Warriors. | SNS Group Tuipulotu didn't play a minute of the Six Nations but, as Glasgow assistant coach Pete Murchie put it this week, should have enough credit in the bank to win Lions selection. He may even have a shout at the captaincy. He led Scotland impressively during the autumn series and was set to do the same in the Six Nations before ripping a pectoral muscle while training with Glasgow. Surgery followed but the Warriors expect him to play a part in at least one if not both of their remaining regular season fixtures before they continue the defence of their URC crown in the play-offs. Caelan Doris' untimely shoulder injury could rob the Lions of their leading captaincy candidate and, if the Irishman doesn't make it, Farrell is likely to pick one of Maro Itoje, Dan Sheehan, Jac Morgan or Tuipulotu as skipper. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Completing the quartet of Scottish Lions certainties should be Pierre Schoeman. Ireland's Andrew Porter is the frontrunner to be the starting Test loosehead but Edinburgh prop Schoeman ball-carrying abilities are likely to secure his place in the squad. The Maybes All things being equal, Zander Fagerson would be a certainty for selection and a good shout for the Test team. Unfortunately, the Glasgow Warriors prop has been laid low with a calf injury and may not play again for this club this season. The timing is rotten for Fagerson but Murchie is confident he'll be fit for the Lions. Zander Fagerson currently has a calf injury. | SNS Group The same will hopefully also be true for van der Merwe who injured his ankle playing for Edinburgh against the Dragons on March 28 and is not expected to return until late May. The winger started all three Test matches against South Africa on the last Lions tour and had an impressive Six Nations but Farrell will need to be convinced of his fitness. Jones is another who impressed for Scotland in February and March and - along with Kinghorn - was one of only two Scots in the Six Nations team of the Championship. He has not played since but is close to a return and can hopefully rekindle his centre partnership with Tuipulotu as Glasgow bid to go deep again in the URC. Transferring the Huwipulotu axis to the Lions would be a sight to behold. The outsiders Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Like Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings was struck down on the eve of the Six Nations and missed the entire tournament with a broken arm. He's back now and played the last 20 minutes of Glasgow's match against the Bulls last month. He could do with more games but is another with 'credit in the bank' as one of the most consistent second rows in the UK and Ireland. Itoje and Tadhg Beirne will be favourites for the Test team but Cummings' dependability would be a big asset for the Lions. In the back row, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey all have solid claims to be included. Ritchie has been Edinburgh's most consistent player over the last two seasons and it's no coincidence he was picked to start four of Scotland's five Six Nations matches. Darge's form may have shaded slightly in the championship but his ability at the breakdown is world class. Jamie Ritchie has been in excellent form for Edinburgh. | SNS Group Dempsey is another who is currently injured. The Scotland No 8 has not played since the Six Nations round four game against Wales due to a hamstring problem but could return in the URC play-offs for Glasgow. His inclusion for the Lions would be particularly intriguing given he was capped 14 times by Australia before switching allegiance in 2022. Back row is one of the most hotly contested areas of Farrell's squad and the coach may be reluctant to take a risk on an injured player with so many options available to him. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Van der Merwe is not the only Scotland winger in with a chance of a Lions call. Darcy Graham's pace and elusiveness offer something entirely different and the news on Tuesday that Ireland's Mack Hansen is expected to be out for five weeks with an ankle injury strengthens the case of the Hawick man who averages a try every 1.5 Tests. Tom Jordan has risen to prominence this season. | SNS Group Tom Jordan might be considered a bolter given that he only made his Scotland debut in the autumn but his ability to play internationally at centre, stand-off and full-back could appeal to Farrell. Hybrid players are in vogue at the moment and Jordan's versatility should be prized.
