Tomos Williams: British and Irish Lions lose Wales star attributable to damage with Ben White known as up as tour substitute

The British and Irish Lions have suffered a hammer blow after Tomos Williams was dominated out of the remainder of their tour to Australia with the hamstring drawback sustained in opposition to Western Force on Saturday.

Ben White has been known as up from the Scotland squad that’s at present in New Zealand to fill the emptiness created by Williams’ damage, which occurred early within the second half at Optus Stadium.

Two appearances into his debut Lions tour and Williams had laid down an early marker for Test choice at scrum-half together with his two-try show in Perth putting him in pole place to face the Wallabies on July 19.

But the reigning Gallagher Premiership participant of the season is now heading house to scale back Wales’ illustration in Andy Farrell’s squad to a single participant, Jac Morgan.

“Unfortunately, Tomos has been ruled out of the rest of the tour with a hamstring injury. Ben White will join us from the Scotland squad and will fly over from New Zealand,” Farrell mentioned.

Williams’ withdrawal from the Lions squad is partially offset by Jamison Gibson-Park’s restoration from the glute concern that pressured him to overlook the opening two video games in opposition to Argentina and the Force.

Gibson-Park makes his first look of the tour in Wednesday’s conflict with the Reds in Brisbane – reside on Sky Sports – taking the No 9 jersey with Alex Mitchell offering cowl from the bench.

England half-back Mitchell would be the solely participant on tour to look in all three matches if he’s concerned at Suncorp Stadium.

“This is desperately sad news for Tomos and we wish him all the very best in his recovery,” Lions supervisor Ieuan Evans mentioned.

“Tomos is an exemplary Lion who has had a brilliant season, having joined the tour after being named Premiership Rugby’s player of the season. He lit up this Lions tour with his personality and his talent.”

Lions captain Maro Itoje returns to the second row after being stood down for the 54-7 victory over the Force, forming an engine room partnership with Ollie Chessum.

Full-back Hugo Keenan makes his first look of the tour after recovering from a calf damage, whereas Finn Russell continues at fly-half having impressed at Optus Stadium.

The British and Irish Lions group to play Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Wednesday July 2 (11am kick-off) – reside on Sky:

Starting XV: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), D van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), M Itoje (Saracens/England, capt), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England), E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), F Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), J Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), F Smith (Northampton Saints/England), G Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).

Farrell: It’s stunning information for us all

Head coach Farrell admits Williams will probably be a serious loss for the British and Irish Lions after he was pressured out of the Australia tour.

Williams will return house on Monday after Farrell revealed the injury incurred whereas scoring the second of his two wonderful tries in opposition to Western Force on Saturday will sideline him for the “medium to long term”.

Replacement White will arrive into camp on Monday, when he will probably be joined by fellow Scot Blair Kinghorn, who’s now out there after serving to Toulouse win the Top 14 ultimate.

“It’s shocking news for us all. We’re not just going to miss an outstanding player – he played unbelievably well and it was some try that he was actually injured by,” Farrell mentioned.

“We’re also going to miss the bloke. We have only been together for a few weeks now but his character is everything you want to have in your group on a Lions tour. He’s very popular and that makes it a little bit tougher.

“Ben [White] will probably be devastated for Tomos, like all of us are. But on the identical time, he is tremendous excited.

“He obviously had ambition to get into the squad – as did many others who didn’t get selected – so now he gets his chance.”

Every match of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia – together with all three Tests in opposition to the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches – will probably be proven completely reside on Sky Sports.

The Lions’ tour of Australia continues with their second warm-up sport in opposition to Queensland Reds in Brisbane (July 2), the Waratahs in Sydney (July 5), the Brumbies in Canberra (July 9), an Invitational Australia & New Zealand facet in Adelaide (July 12) and the Rebels in Melbourne (July 22).

That sport will happen after the opening Test in Brisbane on July 19, with the second Test on the MCG in Melbourne on July 26 and the ultimate Test within the Accor Stadium in Sydney on August 2. Stream the British and Irish Lions with no contract