Detroit Lions

Warren Gatland's son among Barbarians squad to play Lions

Published May. 25, 2017 7:19 p.m. ET

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Flyhalf Bryn Gatland, son of British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland, will play for a Provincial Barbarians team against the Lions in the opening match of their New Zealand tour at Whangarei on June 3.

Gatland was included in a revised squad named on Friday by Barbarians coach Clayton McMillan for what is likely to be the easiest match of the Lions' 10-match tour.

McMillan was forced to make several changes to his squad when six players - Hame Haiva of the Blues, Quentin Strange and Heiden Bedwell Curtis of the Crusaders and Mitch Brown, Jonathan Taumateine and Johnny Fa'auli of the Chiefs - were forced to withdraw because of Super Rugby commitments.

''While we would have loved to have them involved in our campaign we recognize they are needed elsewhere but our coaching group is confident we have selected a strong group of players who will relish this opportunity to take on the British and Irish Lions,'' McMillan said in a statement.

Players added to the squad on Friday include New Zealand Sevens representative Sam Vaka and veteran Waikato center Dwayne Sweeney. The forward pack includes five players with Super Rugby experience: Andrew Makalio, Oliver Jager, James Tucker, Mitch Dunshea and Lachlan Boshier.

The squad assembles in Auckland on Saturday.

The Lions will play three tests against the All Blacks, the first June 24 in Auckland.

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Provincial Barbarians squad: Forwards: Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty), Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington), Sam Anderson-Heather (Otago), Andrew Makalio (Tasman), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Oliver Jager (Canterbury), Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty), Joshua Goodhue (Northland), James Tucker (Waikato), Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Matthew Matich (Northland), Peter Rowe (Wanganui).

Backs: Jack Stratton (Canterbury), Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty), Bryn Gatland (North Harbour), Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato), Kaveinga Finau (Canterbury), Jonah Lowe (Hawke's Bay), Sevuloni Reece (Waikato), Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau), Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau), Junior Ngaluafe (Southland).