Jonny Wilkinson says he turned down Lions place because 'absolute priority' lies with Toulon "Jonny wasn't available," said the Lions head coach, who had been expected to select 38 players but significantly named only 37 yesterday. Wales flanker Sam Warburton, as expected, was named captain, with Ireland hooker Rory Best and England flanker and skipper Chris Robshaw the most high-profile omissions. "I rang Jonny on Monday to sound him out," Gatland said. I was really impressed with the way he played for Toulon against Saracens. I asked him if he could tour and he said he wasn't available. Wilkinson, who toured Australia with the Lions in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005, said last night it was a "hugely proud moment" to be contacted by Gatland, but the player said he had to put Toulon first. If Toulon manage to get through to the final of the Top 14, my absolute priority lies with them and helping to get the best out of a team that has been so good to me for so long. He could yet play a role on the tour as an injury replacement while Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will act as the third backup for the fly-half position on the tour. "We had the discussion about if someone picks up an injury," Gatland said about the possibility of Wilkinson being a standby player. "There was no "yes" or "no" from him. He wasn't quite sure if he was going to have an operation in the off season. He is not doing a lot of training and he said he was ­hanging on by his finger nails. To take someone like that on the Lions tour and get through the physical demands that there are would be hard. But if one of the 10s get an injury and is a couple of weeks out and Jonny is fit and available, then that's another discussion. We left it open-ended. While Gatland insisted there was logic in the decision to take just two fly-halves, in Ireland's Jonny ­Sexton and England's Owen Farrell, as both would get significant game time in the lead-up to the first Test, Irvine said major con­sideration had been given to taking three 10s: "I think there's a very serious probability we would have taken three. Jonny's recent form is such it was remiss of us not to look at it very seriously. I think he left the door open slightly. If there are any injuries in the No 10 position he'd be willing to take a phone call and perhaps reconsider. But to go out as part of the squad when he can only join after the third or fourth game is not really conducive to a good team spirit or good preparation. Personally I think Jonny made the right call. We have to respect his honesty and his integrity. Gatland confirmed that Wilkinson's Toulon team-mate Gethin Jenkins will be allowed to depart for Hong Kong with the squad on May 28. It was a commitment that was beyond Wilkinson, who recently signed a one-year extension with the club. "I feel very passionate that if you want to play for the Lions you just prove to us that you want to play for the Lions," Irvine added. All the lads that have gone over to France have been able to plan well in advance whether they're available. Four years ago Nathan Hines was so determined to tour he walked out on Perpignan. That's the attitude we're looking for.