Jonny Wilkinson in frame for Lions tour, says Warren Gatland By Bryn Palmer BBC Sport Lions head coach Warren Gatland says Jonny Wilkinson is in the frame for a third Lions tour, but success with Toulon may hamper his chances.
Wilkinson's side are five points clear at the top of the French Top 14 and on course for the play-offs.
The final takes place on 1 June, the same day as the first match of the Lions' tour in Hong Kong.
"If we take the France-based players, our preferred option is that they are on the plane with us," said Gatland.
Jonny Wilkinson - Age: 33
- England caps: 91
- World Cup winner in 2003
- Played for the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and 2005 (6 caps)
- Joined Toulon from Newcastle in 2009
"We know what a quality player Jonny is. He is out of international rugby but he is playing in a side that is winning, and he is definitely one we are keeping an eye on.
"The most difficult thing is we will be getting the squad together for almost the first time on the plane.
"But if you look at guys at Toulon for example, they could be playing in a final the same day as our first game in Hong Kong. So it is going to be difficult to integrate them and get them to be a part of the tour.
"It is not something we need to commit to now, and we will look at the strength-in-depth in certain positions, and injuries, but the idea is to have everyone on the plane together."
Ireland's Jonny Sexton is the favourite to start as fly-half for the Lions' first match. But the news that Wales' fly-half Rhys Priestland has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an achilles injury may leave a gap in the squad for Wilkinson.
Gatland and his assistant coaches Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Rob Howley sat down for a three-hour discussion on Tuesday evening about what the squad would look like if they were picking it now, discounting those players currently out injured.
"When we finished, we were very excited about what that squad and team would look like, and the potential of that team. There is real depth in certain positions, where we have got a lot of choice," said Gatland.
"At the moment we have got a group of names down on a list that we are going to track, as well as the injured players. Then players are going to put their hands up in the Six Nations so we feel we are well placed from a selection point of view."
Despite his excitement at the quality and quantity available to him in the second row, back row, centres and back three, Gatland conceded that at scrum-half, fly-half, prop and hooker, he wants more players to stake a claim.
"Those are probably the four positions where there are definitely opportunities for players to cement themselves," he said.
"When you look at the other positions, there are a huge amount of candidates and depth in those areas, and there are going to be some very disappointed players when the final squad is announced."
Jonny Wilkinson - Age: 33
- England caps: 91
- World Cup winner in 2003
- Played for the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and 2005 (6 caps)
- Joined Toulon from Newcastle in 2009
"We know what a quality player Jonny is. He is out of international rugby but he is playing in a side that is winning, and he is definitely one we are keeping an eye on.
"The most difficult thing is we will be getting the squad together for almost the first time on the plane.
"But if you look at guys at Toulon for example, they could be playing in a final the same day as our first game in Hong Kong. So it is going to be difficult to integrate them and get them to be a part of the tour.
"It is not something we need to commit to now, and we will look at the strength-in-depth in certain positions, and injuries, but the idea is to have everyone on the plane together."
Ireland's Jonny Sexton is the favourite to start as fly-half for the Lions' first match. But the news that Wales' fly-half Rhys Priestland has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an achilles injury may leave a gap in the squad for Wilkinson.
Gatland and his assistant coaches Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Rob Howley sat down for a three-hour discussion on Tuesday evening about what the squad would look like if they were picking it now, discounting those players currently out injured.
"When we finished, we were very excited about what that squad and team would look like, and the potential of that team. There is real depth in certain positions, where we have got a lot of choice," said Gatland.
"At the moment we have got a group of names down on a list that we are going to track, as well as the injured players. Then players are going to put their hands up in the Six Nations so we feel we are well placed from a selection point of view."
Despite his excitement at the quality and quantity available to him in the second row, back row, centres and back three, Gatland conceded that at scrum-half, fly-half, prop and hooker, he wants more players to stake a claim.
"Those are probably the four positions where there are definitely opportunities for players to cement themselves," he said.
"When you look at the other positions, there are a huge amount of candidates and depth in those areas, and there are going to be some very disappointed players when the final squad is announced."
"We know what a quality player Jonny is. He is out of international rugby but he is playing in a side that is winning, and he is definitely one we are keeping an eye on.
"The most difficult thing is we will be getting the squad together for almost the first time on the plane.
"But if you look at guys at Toulon for example, they could be playing in a final the same day as our first game in Hong Kong. So it is going to be difficult to integrate them and get them to be a part of the tour.
"It is not something we need to commit to now, and we will look at the strength-in-depth in certain positions, and injuries, but the idea is to have everyone on the plane together."
Ireland's Jonny Sexton is the favourite to start as fly-half for the Lions' first match. But the news that Wales' fly-half Rhys Priestland has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an achilles injury may leave a gap in the squad for Wilkinson.
Gatland and his assistant coaches Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Rob Howley sat down for a three-hour discussion on Tuesday evening about what the squad would look like if they were picking it now, discounting those players currently out injured.
"When we finished, we were very excited about what that squad and team would look like, and the potential of that team. There is real depth in certain positions, where we have got a lot of choice," said Gatland.
"At the moment we have got a group of names down on a list that we are going to track, as well as the injured players. Then players are going to put their hands up in the Six Nations so we feel we are well placed from a selection point of view."
Despite his excitement at the quality and quantity available to him in the second row, back row, centres and back three, Gatland conceded that at scrum-half, fly-half, prop and hooker, he wants more players to stake a claim.
"Those are probably the four positions where there are definitely opportunities for players to cement themselves," he said.
"When you look at the other positions, there are a huge amount of candidates and depth in those areas, and there are going to be some very disappointed players when the final squad is announced."