Glasgow Warriors and Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu says it would be “unreal” to play for the British and Irish Lions in his native Australia next summer.

Melbourne-born Tuipulotu, 27, signed for Glasgow Warriors in 2021 and made his Scotland debut soon after, qualifying through his grandmother from Greenock.

He is now a favourite to make Andy Farrell’s Lions squad, and short odds to make the Test team. While he’s keeping his feet on the ground, Tuipulotu admits a Lions spot is a massive target for him.

“When I arrived [at Glasgow] I couldn’t even imagine that four years later or whatever, I could be in contention to possibly go on this tour,” Tuipulotu said.

“But things have worked out however they’ve worked out. Obviously, for myself, it is one of my goals. I want to be a Lion.

“That’s something I want to do. But I know how to get there is what I did last year, literally taking it one game at a time and focusing on that. I know when the big games roll around, I’ll have the confidence to play well in the big games.

“I feel like that will put me in good stead to hopefully get selected. But it’s so far down the track that my next focus in terms of international rugby is the autumn.”