Bryn Gatland – son of Lions and Wales coach Warren – is moving closer towards a family showdown this summer.
The North Harbour fly-half has been called into the Auckland Blues squad for the first time, just two months before the Lions take on the New Zealand province in the second game of their tour on June 7.
Gatland junior is now closing on his Super Rugby debut after being called into the Auckland Blues squad as injury cover. The No.10, who currently plays in the provincial championship, was drafted into the Blues squad on Tuesday as cover for Ihaia West, who has been ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.
With fellow fly-half Stephen Perofeta also battling with injury, Gatland is likely to be named on the bench for the Blues clash with the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Gatland, who helped North Harbour to the second-tier provincial title last year, was not selected in any of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby sides for this season but had been training with the Canterbury Crusaders until Blues coach Tana Umaga called him into the side.
It is a bit strange being flown all over the country,” Gatland told the New Zealand Herald. “It is tough being an injury replacement as you don’t have any certainty or stability. One minute you are in, the next you are out.
“If I get a chance to get on the field I’ll do what I can to put my best foot forward.
“You see it all the time, someone gets a little bit of an opportunity, they do well and it all works out for them.”
If it does work out well for him, his elevation to the Blues squad raises the possibility he could play against his father when the Lions tour New Zealand in June.
The Lions face all five Super Rugby sides with the Blues hosting them at Eden Park, though the younger Gatland said he was not thinking about that yet.
It has been mentioned about a million times,” he told TVNZ. “I can’t look that too far ahead but it would be awesome.”
Gatland senior is set to name his Lions squad on April 19.
