British and Irish Lions: Warren Gatland to call up new players

Warren Gatland is set to call up at least five players to bolster his British and Irish Lions squad before the first Test against New Zealand.

Maori All Blacks v British and Irish Lions
Date: Saturday, 17 June Time: 08:35 BST Venue: Rotorua International Stadium
Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

The British and Irish Lions have won two of the first four games on the tour to New Zealand

The Lions face Maori All Blacks on Saturday (08:35 BST) and the Chiefs on Tuesday, before the first Test against the All Blacks in Auckland on 24 June.

Head coach Gatland wants the extra players to ensure that none of the Test squad have to play twice in a week.

The players may well come from Wales and Scotland, who are in Australasia.

Wales are currently in Auckland having beaten Tonga 24-6 on Friday, with Scotland in Sydney to face Australia on Saturday.

England would have several strong candidates to be drafted in, but Eddie Jones' squad is preparing for the second Test in Argentina, which is in a different time zone and may count against those players.

Gatland mentioned calling up new players as a possibility last year, and the Lions say it was always part of the tour's planning.

Wales interim head coach Robin McBryde, speaking after the win over Tonga, said he was willing to help out the man he is filling in for.

"We weren't short-sighted enough to think we would come all the way to the other side of the world and not support the Lions if the call comes," he said.

"If we can support them then we'll help them out, but I don't know what Warren is going to do."

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell is likely to be a candidate to be called up with Owen Farrell injured and facing a race to be fit for the first Test a week on Saturday.

His compatriot Jonny Gray is another player likely to be considered by Gatland with doubts over the fitness of England lock Courtney Lawes, who was injured in Tuesday's defeat by the Highlanders.

Englishmen George Ford, as No.10 cover, and second-row Joe Launchbury would be powerful options if Gatland accepts the extra travelling time and the additional period they may take to assimilate to New Zealand time.

Lions tour
3 June	Provincial Barbarians	Won 13-7
7 June	Blues	Lost 22-16
10 June	Crusaders	Won 12-3
13 June	Highlanders	Lost 23-22
17 June	Maori All Blacks
20 June	Chiefs
24 June	New Zealand
27 June	Hurricanes
1 July	New Zealand
8 July	New Zealand