Wales skipper Ryan Jones says his country’s summer tour of North America is the perfect opportunity to put his Lions disappointment behind him.
The Ospreys back row star missed out on a place in Ian McGeechan’s 37-man Lion squad and was understandably disappointed not to be making the trip to South Africa.
Jones has since turned in a man-of-the-match display for his region against Edinburgh and was this week retained as Wales captain for the summer series in Canada and the USA.
He admits that the days immediately following his omission from the Lions party were particularly tough but that the tour must now be about those who are going, rather than those who are not.
"I would like to thank my family, friends and fiancee, who have been superb the last few weeks," said Jones.
"You deal with those disappointments and you move on, simple as that.
""I want the Lions tour to be about the boys who are going on that tour.
"I’ve got some great friends going, and I want it to be positive for them and an experience they will treasure. I wish them all the very best."
The 28-year-old has already seen one of his international colleagues ruled out of the tour through injury and he knows that the best way of pressing his claims as a possible replacement if any of the Lions’ back row players suffer a similar fate to Tom Shanklin and Tomas O’Leary, is to be playing competitive rugby.
The two-Test tour of North America offers Jones the perfect opportunity to do just that.
"The big concern is if you weren’t on this tour, you would go and sit on a beach somewhere with a couple of beers, have a bit too much to eat, and then if the call did come you wouldn’t be in a fit state to go anyway.
"For everyone who is in and around the frame, it is important they stay fit, keen and healthy, and if the call does come you go and enjoy it."
