Sean O'Brien hoping for one last dance with the Lions

Former Ireland star is enjoying training with London Irish and relishing the English Premiership restart

Sean O'Brien is loving life with London Irish and is holding out hope of making next year's British and Irish Lions selection for the 2021 tour. Picture: Inpho/Roger Evans

Seán O’Brien may be a little too experienced to be considered a potential bolter for next summer but if the London Irish flanker does find a way onto a third Lions tour in 2021, it would be an achievement every bit as noteworthy as a young gun shooting into selection.

Now 33, O’Brien should not even be playing by rights, given his 10-month comeback from a hip resurfacing surgery that forced him out of an Ireland swansong at last autumn’s World Cup in Japan.