The first available players for the 2025 British & Irish Lions assembled in Dublin ahead of a six-day training camp in Portugal.
The squad will travel to Quinta do Lago tomorrow, with those involved in the Premiership Rugby and URC finals, joining the squad in Ireland next week ahead of the 1888 Cup match in Dublin against Argentina.
Scotland and Glasgow Warriors tight-head prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the Tour with a calf injury, with Ireland and Connacht’s Finlay Bealham called up to replace him.
England’s Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordjour will also travel to Portugal to train with the squad.
Saracens hooker George was a Lions Tourist in 2017 and 2021 - while Sale Sharks prop Opoku-Fordjour made his debut for England against Japan last November.
Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell said: “It’s tough on Zander to miss out so close to the Tour, but now Finlay gets an opportunity to come in and add to the group. This is unfortunately part and parcel of the game, so we always have to be prepared for that.
“But it’s great to finally be at the stage where we can get onto the training ground and get to work with these players.
“Portugal will be really important for us as we look to get our house in order with only a few training sessions before we take on Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin.”
The British & Irish Lions Squad (Portugal Camp)
Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853 Ben Earl (Saracens/England) Jamie George (Saracens/England) #819 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England) Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) #825 (C) Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks/England) Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England) Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837 Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) #822 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England) Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841~ Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
