Tuesday 16 May 2017 19:11, UK
Leicester's Dan Cole has backed the decision of team-mate Ben Youngs to withdraw from the British and Irish Lions touring party, insisting family is more important than the game.
The wife of Youngs's brother Tom, who is also a Leicester player, is suffering from terminal cancer, which prompted the 27-year-old to withdraw from Warren Gatland's team for the summer tour of New Zealand.
While fully understanding the decision, Cole, who will be in the touring party, says there is still plenty of time for Youngs to make his mark with the Lions. Youngs toured with the 2013 Lions in Australia.
Cole told Sky Sports News HQ: "As a player you realise these things (tours) are rare and you are always gearing for the next one after the last one finishes.
"So for him to give it up shows the importance of family and underlines the fact that there is stuff bigger than the game. Ben has made a decision and everyone stands behind him and it is the right decision to make.
"He's young. He's only 27, there is still plenty of time for him. There are 31-year-olds in the squad and I'm sure there are people who have played for the Lions when they are 35.
"Whoever is in charge for the Lions in four years' time, they will pick his best two or three scrum-halves and if Ben is one of them, he will go."
Scotland's Greig Laidlaw replaced Youngs in the 41-man squad, whose first warm-up match for the three-Test series is on 3 June.
Sky Sports will take you to every tour match and all three Tests as Warren Gatland's men look to create history this summer.
