LIST | 6 English players who could be bolters for the Lions in 2021

Sunday, 11 October 2020 at 11:27

bySteven Smith

With just over a year until the British & Irish Lions head to South Africa, there's still time for some relatively unknown players to stake a claim for a late call-up.

Paddy Power, who are already taking bets on who'll make Warren Gatland's squad, are offering odds on this handful of uncapped English hopefuls.

Here are six players they think are in with a shot of selection in 2021.

1. Jack Willis (Wasps) - 7/2

Jones was close to giving the flanker his debut in South Africa two years ago until a serious injury intervened, but his form since lockdown has led to further speculation that he might play a role in England’s autumn campaign.

In the Premiership, Willis has twice as many turnovers as his nearest competitor, making the argument for his selection an easy one.

The 23-year-old looks set to become a world superstar. Lions call-up? Why not.

2. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons) - 100/1

The top-scorer in the Championship this season, the prolific winger, is a similar sort of player to Jonny May and is developing into one of England's most exciting young talents. It's simple: give him the ball, point him in the direction of the try-line, sit back and applaud.

If he can continue his meteoric rise in the Gallagher Premiership next season, an England call-up and potential Lions tour isn't beyond the realms of possibility.

3. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) - 3/1

Ben Curry burst onto the professional scene along with his twin brother Tom at Sale Sharks as teenage back-row prodigies; but their careers have gradually diverged.

Tom has already won 19 Test Caps, and was shortlisted for the World Player of the Year award late last year in recognition of a stunning impact at international level. But Ben has been forced to bide his time, slowly establishing himself as a fixture in the Sale pack at openside.

Given the opportunity, it wouldn't be too much of a shock to see Ben playing with his brother for England in the future.

4. Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears) - 6/1

A skilful dynamo of a hooker, it's criminal that Thacker has not received a call-up from Eddie Jones in the last two years. In an impressive debut season at Bristol, including a hat-trick against Wasps and a scintillating brace versus Tigers, Thacker was listed in the Guardian's Team Of The Year. This would be a bold but exciting selection.

5. Beno Obano (Bath Rugby) - 20/1

A great character.

The cousin of England stalwart Maro Itoje, Obano quickly became a fan favourite at Bath and is renowned for being reliable at scrum time and showing an unflinching commitment in the loose phases.

Despite a couple of career-threatening hamstring injuries, one of which ruled him out for the best part of a year, the 25-year-old always seems to be on the edge of the England set-up. With Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola ahead of him in the pecking order, it would be tough for him to break into the England side - never-mind the Lions.

Still, stranger things have happened.

6. Jacob Umaga (Wasps) - 10/1

With ex-international level dad Mike and former All Blacks Captain uncle Tana, it was inevitable that the 21-year-old would take up rugby and do well in his own right.

The young fly-half has already been called up by England boss Eddie Jones and looks on course to become one of the best stand-offs in the Gallagher Premiership.

The amount of competition for his position, however, makes a Lions call-up very unlikely at this stage.