ZanderFagerson

Scotland’s Zander Fagerson had a taste of what it meant to be a British & Irish Lion back in 2021 and hopes to get his first Test cap for the touring side having been selected for his second Tour.

The prop became Lion No 848 when he came off the bench at Ellis Park against Lions – a South African team based in Gauteng – a moment he describes as one of immense pride.

"It was amazing, a sort of pinch-yourself moment,” said the 29-year-old.

"Back when me and my brothers were playing in the garden back in Kirriemuir, we were pretending to be Lions players.

"Someone like the Scottish prop Tom Smith, you would try to emulate him in our touch games when we were kids.

“Then to actually become a Lion is truly special.”

Now part of Andy Farrell’s squad, Fagerson will be gunning to go one better than four years ago and make an appearance against Australia.

He has worn the famous Scottish blue on 73 occasions since 2016 and has played at two Men’s Rugby World Cups – in 2019 in Japan, where he scored against the hosts, and in 2023, alongside brother Matt, in France.

He also played alongside his sibling in the United Rugby Championship final in June 2024 as Glasgow Warriors defeated Bulls 21-16 in Pretoria to claim their first URC crown.

Fagerson also reached the 2023 EPCR Challenge Cup final in 2023 with Glasgow, but Toulon ran out 43-19 winners.