When the British & Irish Lions squad for the 2013 tour to Australia is announced there will be some old names and some new names – some making their second, third or even fourth trip and some their first.
But when it comes to representing the Lions it is not a case of trying to keep up with the Joneses – it is more a case of trying to keep up with the Williamses.
There have been 19 players with the surname ‘Williams’ who have pulled on the famous Lions jersey to 16 by the Joneses, the latter excluding 1930 tourist Tommy Jones-Davies.
The Williams players include Bleddyn, Rhys, JPR and JJ while among the Jones boys have been the likes of Olympic sprinter Ken, Ivor, Rob and Stephen.
In third place are the Smiths, not counting Alan Ayre-Smith, with 11 of their clan playing for the Lions, and those three surnames are the only ones into double figures – so far!
Because knocking on the door to make it to 10 are the Davieses and the Morgans with nine apiece. The Davieses include Gerald and Mervyn, while among the leading Morgans have been Cliff and Haydn.
Following them are the surnames of Evans (8), Thomas (7) and Wallace (6). They could get a boost when Warren Gatland announces his tour party and there will be plenty of new names hoping to join the 712 members of a very exclusive club.
No Faletaus, Zebos, Tuilagis, Lydiates, Fodens, Vissers, Warburtons, Bothas, Hartleys, Healys, Bests or Kellocks on the list…for the moment!
