Harry Ellis has backed Leicester team-mate Tom Croft to bounce back from his omission from the Lions squad.
Tiger predicts team-mate will be Lion in the future
Harry Ellis has backed Leicester team-mate Tom Croft to bounce back from his surprise omission from the British and Irish Lions squad.
Scrum-half Ellis is Leicester's only representative in the squad to tour South Africa this summer.
Tigers flanker Croft was omitted from the 37-man party despite being widely tipped by many pundits for a place on the plane.
The 23-year-old's form, fitness and athleticism had marked him out as a potential star in the loose on the hard grounds of South Africa.
Ellis said: "I obviously don't pick the squad but I'm sure Tom will be very disappointed because he's been playing extremely well for club and country all season.
"However, he's still very young and I'm sure he will be in contention for the next couple of Lions tours.
"He will bounce back from this and he still has a lot to give for club and country in the coming weeks.
"We've got some massive games coming up in the Guinness Premiership play-offs and the semi-final of the Heineken Cup against Cardiff.
"Tom will have a huge role to play in these games and I know he will give 110% in each one of them.
"He's very mature, very professional and I'm sure his time will come for the Lions in the future."
Delighted
Ellis added he was delighted to be selected after a series of impressive displays for England in the RBS Six Nations.
"It's been a real rollercoaster season for me this year, but I'm incredibly honoured to be named in a squad with such great players," he said.
"I had seen my name being bandied around in the newspapers but wasn't sure what to expect. I must have impressed the selectors during the Six Nations and at club level.
"It helps when you are playing with such great players week in and week out at Leicester, and the professionalism of the lads at the club is amazing.
"That has helped me of course but as I said there are a lot of important games left to come for Leicester this season and they are my immediate priority."
