Schoeman's proud to be on foreign legion tour

SOUTH AFRICAN-BORN PROP ANSWERS CRITICS

- From Adam Hathaway in Perth

SOUTH AFRICAN-BORN prop Pierre Schoeman says the Lions' foreign legion are as proud as any other player on tour to be wearing the red jersey.

Scotland prop Schoeman is one of eight in the 38-strong squad born in either Australia, South Africa or New Zealand, a number that “bothers” former skipper Willie John McBride.

The octet qualify through their family tree or residency but the high proportion of players — some of whom did not make the grade in their country of birth — has attracted criticism.

Australian-born front-rower Finlay Bealham is eligible through his Irish grandparents, Sione Tuipulotu has a Scottish grandmother, while Schoeman, at Edinburgh since 2018, makes it under the old three-year residency rule, which has since been increased to five years.