5 players you forgot Warren Gatland called up for the Lions

Every British or Irish rugby player dreams of representing the Lions.

Being called up is supposed to be the pinnacle moment of every rugby players career, however, not every star can make their mark for the tourists.

Here, we look at five rugby players you definitely forgot earned Lions call-ups under Warren Gatland.

In the form of his career ahead of the 2017 tour to New Zealand, Billy Vunipola was most people's Lions Test No 8 before the tour began and was named in the original 41-man party.

Due to a shoulder injury Vunipola had been managing playing for Saracens in their run to Champions Cup glory, but was forced to withdraw from the squad in May 2017, and was replaced by James Haskell.

In May 2013, Hartley was sent off in the Aviva Premiership final against Leicester and banned for 11 weeks after being found guilty of verbally abusing a match official. Despite already being photographed in full kit, this act cost Hartley his place in the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

He copped an 11-week suspension and missed the Lions tour as a result. His omission four years later by Gatland meant he retired having never been a Lion.

DID YOU KNOW? During his early days in England Hartley swapped positions from prop to hooker

There was no disputing Williams’ place in the Lions squad in 2005, with the Welsh legend equalling a record five tries in a single game against Manawatu as if to hammer that point home. However, by 2013 the wing was 36, playing his club rugby for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan and was conveniently in Australia anyway to work for the tour as a radio commentator.

Nonetheless, he was drafted for three days to play a tour match against Brumbies, in which he was named on the starting lineup.

The one-cap England wide-man was called up to play in the Brumbies game but stole the show for his hair-combing off the field, not his rugby. Wade possessed an abundance of speed and could finish, but looked very raw and didn’t relish defensive duties when called upon.

Summoned from England duty in Argentina but part of a makeshift side which flopped against the Brumbies. This moment really felt like the moment that sent Twelvetrees international career downhill.