Injured Fagerson replaced by Bealham in Lions squad

Scotland prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled retired of nan British and Irish Lions' circuit to Australia pinch a calf wounded and replaced by Ireland's Finlay Bealham.

Fagerson's club, Glasgow Warriors, confirmed nan news connected X, adding: "We're each down you, Z - we cognize you'll travel backmost moreover stronger."

The 29-year-old past featured for Glasgow successful early April and was absent arsenic they mislaid Saturday's United Rugby Championship play-off semi-final to Leinster successful Dublin.

Capped much than 70 times by Scotland, nan tighthead toured South Africa pinch nan Lions successful 2021 and featured against Sigma Lions.

Australian-born Bealham, who qualifies for Ireland done his grandmother, moved to Ireland successful 2010 and made his world debut successful 2016.

With Tadhg Furlong injured, nan 33-year-old Connacht prop started each crippled of Ireland's 2025 Six Nations campaign, winning his 50th headdress successful nan conclusion by France successful nan penultimate round.

Andy Farrell's Lions look Australia successful Tests connected 19 July, 26 July and 2 August and will play 7 different matches connected tour.

Saracens hooker Jamie George, 34, and his chap Englishman Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 20, of Sale Sharks, will recreation to Portugal to train pinch nan squad.

George featured connected nan erstwhile 2 Lions tours, picking up 3 caps.

It's a sad reality that galore players execute their eventual extremity of being selected for nan Lions, only to spot wounded snatch that dream distant earlier they get their hands connected that celebrated reddish jersey. It happens each 4 years.

It's peculiarly sadistic that's it's happened to Zander Fagerson, though. He was nan only Scot retired of 8 selected for nan 2021 circuit to South Africa that did not spot immoderate action successful nan Test series.

On nan time it was announced he had been selected for this summer's circuit to Australia, Fagerson said to BBC Scotland of really he felt he had not done himself justness 4 years ago, hampered by niggling wounded problems, and nan thrust he had to spell Down Under to show nan champion of himself.

It's heartbreaking he will not now get nan chance to do that.