Kyle Sinckler handed shock Lions call-up following injury to Andrew Porter as coach Warren Gatland reaches out to in-form Bristol Bears star
England prop Kyle Sinckler has been handed a shock Lions call-up for next month’s tour of South Africa.
Sinckler received an invitation from Warren Gatland on Sunday morning, following an injury to Irishman Andrew Porter.
Having featured on the 2017 tour of New Zealand, Sinckler’s omission was one of the biggest surprises in Gatland’s 37-man squad announcement.
England prop Kyle Sinckler has been handed a shock Lions call-up for next month’s tour
He responded to the setback with a man-of-the-match display for Bristol, before saying in an emotional interview: ‘Right now it doesn’t make sense but what I wanted to do was to lead by example. How easy would it have been for me to play the victim?
‘I’m emotional. I wanted to use that anger. I’ve never had so much anger inside me and I used it in a positive way for the team.
Sinckler has been in dominant form for the Bristol Bears after his initial Lions setback
‘I kind of understand the reasons why, but in a year or two’s time I will be back on it and it will all make sense.
‘Right now, it doesn’t make sense, but what I wanted to do was to lead by example and show the kids.’
Sinckler was ruled out of Bristol’s victory over Leicester on Saturday, but medical staff are confident he will be fit for the club’s play off push.
In missing the match Sinckler was unable to go up against close friend Ellis Genge, who also spoke publicly of his disappointment at missing out on Lions selection.
Sinckler played in all three matches of the British & Irish Lions’ series against New Zealand