Lions call up Bealham after Fagerson blow

Scotland's Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions' tour to Australia with a calf injury and replaced by Ireland's Finlay Bealham.

Fagerson, who had been expected to play a central role in the Lions' pack, sustained an injury during a training session earlier this week, which has now officially ruled him out of the tour.

The tighthead toured South Africa with the Lions in 2021, but his absence presents a chance to Australian-born Bealham, who qualifies for Ireland through his grandmother.

As reported by Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent over the weekend, the injury sustained by Tadhg Furlong has paved the way for Bealham to potentially be part of the touring party.

With Furlong's fitness now in the balance, it looks as though England tighthead and Premiership finalist Will Stuart will be the favourite for the No.3 jersey when the first Test comes around against the Wallabies on July 19th.

Elsewhere, Sale's exciting prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour will travel to Portugal to train with the squad while Saracens hooker Jamie George will also link up with the group.