Pat Lam believes Scotland back Tom Jordan could earn a spot on the British and Irish Lions tour this summer before he arrives at Bristol Bears.
Secretly, Lam is probably hoping that isn’t the case as it will hamper the 26-year-old’s ability to bed himself in at his new club when he makes the switch from Glasgow Warriors as he will not arrive until late in the summer if he does get a Lions call, but it speaks of the quality of his new signing. Jordan has impressed from the centre for Scotland during the Six Nations, coming off the bench in their opening win against Italy been starting the last three internationals with 12 on his back.
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A standout display away in France this weekend in the final round of the tournament and with the injury to England’s Ollie Lawrence, could just force Jordan’s case for a seat on the plane to Australia. Lions head coach Andy Farrell will certainly need a number of utility players in his squad to fulfil the challenging schedule of games, and it is Jordan’s ability to play ‘at international standard’ in three positions that has Lam so excited about his arrival in BS3.
With USA fly-half AJ MacGinty having signed a one-year contract extension with the club back in December and Max Malins departing at the end of the season to return to Saracens, it looks increasingly likely that Jordan might get a lot of minutes playing with 15 on his back during the 2025/26 campaign.
Asked whether he is recruiting for a replacement for England international full-back Malins, with Rich Lane and Benjamin Elizalde his other options at 15, Lam told Bristol Live: “I think Tom Jordan will be an option for us at 15. Next season we have got AJ and Tom Jordan who is now an international at full-back, 10, 12, he is very similar to Max Malins in his ability to be able to play multiple positions.
“I think Tom is an outside chance to make the Lions this summer if he goes well for Scotland during the Six Nations. Just like AJ he is very robust. He played full back against South Africa in the Autumn and did extremely well.
“When I met him, I saw his size and physicality, he loves to smash people and has great attacking skills, taking the ball flat to the line. He is really good under the high ball and Glasgow use him that way at the back a lot. I knew he had played full back a few times back in New Zealand but to see him play there against South Africa, against the World Champions in a Test match, I thought great.”