'I want to be here to the end'

BBC News

a day ago

British and Irish Lions wing Darcy Graham says he wants to stay with the squad until the end of the tour in Australia.The 28-year-old, who was a notable omission from the initial touring party, was called up to Andy Farrell's squad last Monday and will make his Lions debut against First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.Scotland's Graham, who will start in Melbourne on the right wing, is joined in the matchday squad by fellow late call-ups Jamie George and Jamie Osborne in the starting team, while Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Tom Clarkson and the latest call-up, Gregor Brown, all fill the bench.Assistant coach John Dalziel has admitted some of recent call-ups that are helping to protect the Test team could fly home after the game on Tuesday."It is awesome and something I have dreamed about my whole career," Graham said."It has been an emotional rollercoaster to get to this point but we are finally here. Open those doors and let me out on that pitch."It was about staying emotionally involved in the Lions and watching the games to see how all the Scottish boys are getting on."I was buzzing for them but watching it and not being involved is hard."When Ben White got called up [earlier in the tour], I was delighted for him but gutted to miss out again. To get that call was a dream come true."
The Edinburgh winger travelled from Auckland to Brisbane last week in time for first Test preparations, while his international team-mates Ashman, Sutherland and Brown all flew out after beating Samoa on Friday.Having that extra time with the squad has motivated Graham to perform and stay on tour.The Lions play the second Test against Australia on Saturday at Melbourne Cricket Ground, before the final Test in Sydney."I got the call and had about an hour and a half to two hours to pack my stuff and get to the airport and try to get visas sorted, which were a nightmare," he added."We finally got it sorted at the last minute before boarding and got out straight away."I was glad I did as I got two days training to spend time with the boys and really settle down, it made a huge difference."I feel a huge part of the squad and don't want it to end. I want to be here to the end now I've been in."After that game on Saturday, I was like 'I want a jersey, 'I want a cap, I want to play'. Now I am going to get that opportunity and I want to go out there and stay until the end."This is the last chance for boys to put their hand up for Test two and three, so there is that bit of added pressure."