'A proud day for Connacht': Bundee Aki becomes just fourth Lion from province

Aki got the nod from Warren Gatland ahead of his Ireland colleague Garry Ringrose, Wales’ Jonathan Davies and England’s Manu Tuilagi

Bundee Aki: The fourth Connacht player to go on a Lions tour. Picture: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Connacht coach Andy Friend has hailed the selection of Bundee Aki in Warren Gatland’s British & Irish Lions squad and predicted the Ireland centre will make a big impact in South Africa.

It’s 38 years since Connacht last had a representative in the Lions squad, and after Ciaran Fitzgerald, John O’Driscoll and Ray McLoughlin, Aki will be just the fourth ever representative from Connacht.