ChrisHarris

An athletic and intelligent centre, Scotland’s Chris Harris was rewarded for an excellent season with a maiden British & Irish Lions call-up in 2021.

Best known for his defensive aptitude, Harris thrived under Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend and defence coach Steve Tandy, both of whom also coached him in South Africa.

Since making his Scotland debut in 2017, Harris has accumulated 28 caps and become a key figure in the heart of their midfield.

He only signed a professional contract four years before that, joining Newcastle Falcons in 2013 after impressing at National League side Tynedale while studying architecture at Northumbria University.

He completed his degree in 2013 and a year later made his mark in the Premiership 7s competition, with a try in each of Newcastle’s three group games.

Harris made his Premiership debut in December 2014 and scored two tries against Saracens and a series of consistent performances saw him earn a first Scotland call-up in 2017.

He made his debut off the bench against Samoa and then his Six Nations debut against Wales a year later.

2019 was a big year for Harris, who played in all four games for Scotland at the World Cup and moved to current club Gloucester.

He has gone from strength to strength since, playing in all nine of Scotland’s matches in 2020 and all five in 2021 to date, including the 11-6 win away to England in February and the 27-23 win in Paris in March.

After featuring in warm-up matches for the Lions against Sigma Lions, Cell C Sharks and South Africa A, Harris made his Lions Test debut with a start in the second against South Africa.