White hasnt stopped shaking after late Lions call-up

Ben White becomes the eighth Scot in the Lions squad

Toulon scrum-half Ben White admits "I havent stopped shaking" after being called up as an injury replacement for the British and Irish Lions just as he was preparing to play for Scotland on Saturday.

The 27-year-old got the call from Lions head coach Andy Farrell after Wales Tomos Williams was forced off the field with a hamstring injury after scoring a try in the 54-7 win over Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

White was given the news at the Scotland training camp in Whangarei, New Zealand, where he was preparing to face the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa this summer.

"Its pretty crazy," he told Scottish Rugby, which has called up Sale Sharks Gus Warr as a replacement.

"I dont think its quite sunk in yet to be honest. He called me this morning - about an hour ago - and I just havent stopped shaking since. Its an incredible honour. Im really excited."

White admitted that it "was tough" to watch the original Lions squad be announced as he missed out on selection.

"But it was an experience that I can put in the locker," he said. "I just knew I had to just do what I could and try to play well for my club, Toulon.

"I was really excited to be on tour with Scotland, and to play for Scotlands amazing, and I was focused on that.

"I guess that someones looking out for me upstairs. Its falling on my feet."

White "straight away" phoned his parents to deliver the news.

"I dont think they could quite believe it," he said. "They were obviously just incredibly proud. It was a great phone call to have.

"Its something you dream of but you never really think youll do."

White brings Scotlands Lions representation in the 38-strong squad back up to eight after forward Zander Fagerson was forced to withdraw through injury.

"Obviously theres theres a fair few Scottish boys in the squad and itll be great to see those boys as well as also meeting the players that I dont know too well," he said.

Two minutes after Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend passed on his congratulations, White was told he was booked on a noon flight to Australia.

Townsend now has to prepare for Saturdays meeting with the Maori All Blacks without his 25-times capped first-choice scrum-half.

"It was an honour to be called up to play for Scotland and to be here in New Zealand was amazing and I was really looking forward to three big test matches," White added.

"But the squad that we have here is amazing and I know that theyll theyre going to go well against the Maori at the weekend. Its going to be a great game for us and I think weve trained really well, so itll be exciting to see how we go and Ill be watching for sure."

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Warr will now have the chance to add to his two Scotland caps.