Major Absences in British and Irish Lions Squad Ahead of Australia Tour
This week, the British and Irish Lions are gearing up for their highly anticipated tour of Australia, but a significant portion of their squad will be missing from preparations. Last month, head coach Andy Farrell announced a 38-player roster, with their first match set against Argentina next weekend.
Before heading to Australia for a challenging nine-match tour, which includes a three-game series against the Wallabies, the Lions will embark on a warm-weather training camp in Portugal. However, a staggering 16 players—over 40% of the squad—will be unable to join their teammates due to club commitments.
Twelve of these players are key members of Leinster, who will compete in the United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls on Saturday. Consequently, they won’t join the Lions until the week of the Argentina match in Dublin. Notable Leinster players such as Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, and James Lowe all played crucial roles in the semi-final win over the Glasgow Warriors, while Ronan Kelleher contributed from the bench.
In addition to these absences, Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier, and Hugo Keenan are currently recovering from injuries and will miss the final match on Saturday. Meanwhile, England’s Will Stuart and Ollie Chessum, along with Scotland’s Finn Russell, will participate in the Gallagher Premiership final between Bath and Leicester Tigers. Blair Kinghorn, who is dealing with a knee injury, is also yet to join the Lions. According to the Toulouse website, he has completed final tests and is conditioning for a potential return to the squad.
With Toulouse finishing first in the regular season in France, their next match coincides with the Lions’ preparations, further complicating the situation. As a result, Farrell will be working with just 22 players until those involved with their clubs can reunite with the rest of the squad. It remains uncertain whether any additional players will be brought in to strengthen the team.
In a statement last month, Farrell hinted at the possibility of adding two more players to the existing 38-man roster before the team departs for Australia. Among those hoping for a late call-up is Owen Farrell, who, according to his father, remains in consideration due to his experience as he aims for his fourth tour. "He’s an experienced player who would cover all bases," his father noted. "While there are 38 players selected, a couple of spots remain open if needed, and Owen is definitely in that bracket."
Stay tuned as the Lions finalize their squad and prepare for an exciting tour down under!
