Gatland later told English radio station TalkSport that it was actually Wilkinson's decision not to jointheLions squad, because of the timing of the French season and his borderline fitness.
Woodward persuaded him to jointheLions tour to New Zealand in 2005 but it ended in disaster as he suffered a serious ankle injury against Bay of Plenty in the tour's first match.
Four players in the Dutch league - Said Boutahar from NEC, Heerenveen's Said Bakati, Mounir Hamdaoui of Excelsior and striker Ali Boussaboun from NAC Breda - will jointhe Atlas Lions for the first time.
After returning to union in 1996 with Richmond, Bateman was chosen for the 1997 Lions to South Africa and earned a cap in the final Test to join a small elite who have played for both Great Britain and theLions.