Ireland hooker Rory Best has described his call up to the British and Irish Lions squad as a "massive honour".
The 30-year-old was named as the replacement for Dylan Hartley on Sunday, who was handed a 11-week ban for swearing at the referee during Northampton Saints' defeat to Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership final on Saturday.
While he admits that he was disappointed not to make the initial squad, Best is delighted to have been picked for the tour.
"It was hard when I didn't make the initial squad because it is everyone's ambition. To now be selected is a massive honour," Best told Ulster's website. "To finally be selected makes playing professional rugby worthwhile. All the lows that you get and the knocks and bumps, it more than makes up for them and for a few weeks ago when I thought that the chance had gone.
"There will be 37 players getting on a plane to Hong Kong aiming to make the Test squad and I am no different. I am as ambitious as everyone else.
"To be on the tour is unbelievable but you have to go there and play your best rugby, put your hand up and see where that takes you."
The tour gets underway in Hong Kong on Saturday when the Lions face the Barbarians.
Matt Cotton
