I was thrilled to finally receive my Lions cap

IT’S funny how at a time when the game is looking forward to something special for a few players, I feel a little sad for all those that have missed out. I am, of course, talking about the Lions selection which has always been a puzzle to me and probably anyone and everyone outside the cartel that has the job of player selection.

- JEFF PROBYN

Unlike any other international game, it isn’t about just picking a team to play a match with a few replacements in case of injury, or a squad representing a single country in a battle to beat another country. In theory, it’s about combining the best players from four of the leading nations in the northern hemisphere — England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales - to tour and play against one of the leading Unions (New Zealand, Australia and South Africa) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Unfortunately, there has always seemed to be a balancing act in the selection of players, so that they are picked from all four countries, even if there are compromises that see some players who really should have been picked left out of the squad selection.

These compromises are so that each of the four countries has a representation by having players on tour, even if they are never picked for any of the Tests.

In 1989, I was hoping to be picked for what would have been my first ever Lions squad having established myself as the number one England tighthead prop but I was concussed in our game against Ireland in the Five Nations. That not only lost me my place in the England team for the rest of the Five Nations, but also the chance to tour with the Lions to Australia when my place in the England team was taken by Gareth Chilcott, who was also picked for the tour as well.