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Only Two Welsh Players Considered Likely To Make Lions Tour

Graham ThomasGraham Thomas8 hours ago
Wales Jac Morgan. Pic: Alamy

Wales Jac Morgan. Pic: Alamy

It’s the game everyone in Welsh rugby likes to play before Lions squad announcement day . . . how many Welsh Dragons will become British and Irish Lions?

Only two Wales players are odds-on to make the Lions squad on Thursday, in the view of Welsh bookmakers, DragonBet.

They make Wales captain Jac Morgan and Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams more than likely to make the trip to Australia.

But every other Welsh player is ranked as an outsider, including three-times Lions tourist, Taulupe Faletau.

Morgan is the hottest favourite with the bookmaker, who make the Ospreys back rower 1/8 to be included in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad when it is named on Thursday afternoon  in London.

Then, comes Williams as the other short-odds selection at 5/6.

Faletau is rated no better than an 11/8 shot, followed by Exeter second row Dafydd Jenkins (2/1), Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake (5/2) and Leicester prop Nicky Smith (5/2).

DragonBet also reckon the most likely representation in the widely assumed 37-man squad is between just two and four Welsh players.

A three-man Welsh group is considered the most anticipated at odds of 11/8.

Parties of two or four Welsh players are priced at 10/3.

If you’re feeling really pessimistic about Welsh chances, then you could back an outcome of no Welsh players at all in the squad, at 33/1.

READ MORE: Lions Should Take Dewi Lake And Three Other Welshmen, Says 2013 Hero Richard Hibbard

DragonBet director James Lovell said: “Welsh fans have always held a massive interest in the Lions and this year won’t be any different.

“But we are expecting a very small number of Welsh players making the squad, which just reflects results and performances over the past year or so.

“Everyone thinks Jac Morgan will make it and so do we, but it will be a huge change from the last few tours when Wales had big numbers.

“One thing won’t change, though – and that’s interest in the Lions among Welsh fans. They’re always invested in the Lions doing well, whoever gets picked.”

READ MORE: First The Double Wooden Spoon . . . Now, The Big Lions Snub Awaits Wales, Predicts Shane Williams

Odds on Welsh players making the Lions squad:
1/8 - Jac Morgan
5/6 – Tomos Williams
11/8 - Taulupe Faletau 
2/1 - Dafydd Jenkins
5/2 - Dewi Lake, Nicky Smith
12/1 – Blair Murray
25/1 – Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Will Griff John
40/1 – Max Llewellyn, Nick Tompkins

Odds courtesy of DragonBet 

 

READ MORE: Taulupe Faletau Sees Lions Hopes Rise After Injuries To Rivals

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