Murray and Hines are the only Scots in the Lions' squad

Nathan Hines and Euan Murray have expressed their delight at being selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

The two forwards are the only Scots to be included in head coach Ian McGeechan's 37-man squad.

"It's still sinking in. I'm pretty happy. It's a challenge I'm really looking forward to," said Hines.

"I've worked as hard as I could all year. The results have been rewarded so I'm really pleased," said Murray.

Australian-born Hines, who plays for Perpignan, wished to thank the Scotland backroom staff for helping him overcome injury to make the cut.

"I've worked really hard since January when I injured my knee and it's a road I've been down before with injuries," said the lock.

The 32-year-old also paid tribute to former Scotland head coach Frank Hadden, who he said had given him support and "great encouragement" over many years.

Hines' Scotland and Lions team-mate Murray, 28, has played with Northampton since leaving Glasgow Warriors in 2007.

And he believes the move has helped him break into McGeechan's elite squad.

We have got a big pack with players we know who are physical but who can also carry the ball. Nathan Hines is like that British and Irish Lions forwards coach Warren Gatland

"I came down to England to play in the Premiership and improve my rugby and have changed my attitude to the game in the past year," said Murray.

"I've played South Africa twice and been beaten twice, but only narrowly.

"They're one of the fittest, strongest, fastest sides I've played against ever, so it will be a massive task this summer."

Lock Hines and prop Murray have been chosen to form part of a powerful forward pack to combat the physicality of the Springboks.

Defence coach Shaun Edwards said the selectors had picked "beasts" to take on what he called the biggest scrum on the planet.

Forwards coach Warren Gatland added: "We have got a big pack with players we know who are physical but who can also carry the ball. Nathan Hines is like that."

The inclusion of only two players is the lowest Scottish representation in a Lions squad since 1930 when one player made the trip to Australia and New Zealand.

McGeechan, himself a Scot, said the lack of Scottish players saddened him but that he had to put national feelings to one side and select the best squad possible based on form.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version