The 2025 British & Irish Lions preparations suffered an early setback with the withdrawal of Scotland and Glasgow Warriors prop Zander Fagerson due to a calf injury, just days before the squad departs for a training camp in Portugal.
Fagerson’s absence is a significant blow to the Lions’ forward options, with Ireland and Connacht tight-head Finlay Bealham called up as his replacement.
“It’s tough on Zander to miss out so close to the Tour,” said Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell. “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.”
Andy Farrell adds THREE more players to his British & Irish Lions squad
The trio will link up with the squad in Portugal next week as preparations continue for the fixture against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, 20 June, followed by the Lions’ tour opener against the Western Force in Perth on 28 June.
Here’s a closer look at each of the new faces:
? Asher Opoku-Fordjour (England, Tighthead Prop)
Age: 20
Club: Sale Sharks
Caps: 1 (England)
Club: Sale Sharks
Caps: 1 (England)
A name on the rise, Opoku-Fordjour’s call-up caps off a breakthrough season for the Sale Sharks tighthead. The 20-year-old made his England debut during the autumn internationals and quickly turned heads with his power at the scrum and mobility around the park. He was also shortlisted for Premiership Young Player of the Season, a testament to his growing influence.
With Tadhg Furlong (injury), Will Stuart (unavailable), and Zander Fagerson (injured) all missing, Farrell has turned to one of England’s brightest front-row prospects to bolster the Lions' depth.
? Jamie George (England, Hooker)
Age: 33
Club: Saracens
Caps: 101 (England)
Club: Saracens
Caps: 101 (England)
One of the most experienced hookers in world rugby, Jamie George brings leadership, set-piece precision, and a wealth of big-game experience. A three-time British & Irish Lions tourist (2017, 2021), George offers Farrell a reliable and proven option amid a hooker shortage—with both Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher tied up with Leinster.
George remains a cornerstone for Saracens and England, and his addition adds serious quality to the training setup in Portugal.
? Finlay Bealham (Ireland, Prop) - replaces injured Zander Fagerson
Age: 32
Club: Connacht
Caps: 41 (Ireland)
Club: Connacht
Caps: 41 (Ireland)
A versatile front-rower capable of playing both sides of the scrum, Bealham has quietly become a key contributor for both Connacht and Ireland. He was part of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning Six Nations squad in 2023 and featured prominently at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
With his solid scrummaging, hard carries, and a knack for linking play, Bealham adds valuable depth and experience—particularly with so many Leinster players unavailable due to the URC final.
? Lions Under Pressure
With 12 Leinster players, as well as stars from Bath and Leicester, currently tied up in domestic finals, Farrell is working with a skeleton crew—especially in the front row. These new call-ups will provide crucial support in training and could push for tour match involvement if injuries persist.
Expect official confirmation of the full extended squad on Monday as the Lions gear up for a demanding summer campaign.
British & Irish Lions Squad – Portugal Training 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)
2025 British & Irish Lions Fixtures
1888 Cup
- 20/06/25: Lions v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Dublin –
KO 8:00pm
2025 Qatar Airways Lions Series
- 28/06/25: Western Force v Lions, Optus Stadium, Perth – KO 10:45am
- 02/07/25: Queensland Reds v Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – KO 10:45am
- 05/07/25: NSW Waratahs v Lions, Allianz Stadium, Sydney – KO 10:45am
- 09/07/25: ACT Brumbies v Lions, Gio Stadium, Canberra – KO 10:45am
- 12/07/25: Invitational Australia & NZ XV v Lions, Adelaide Oval – KO 10:15am
- 19/07/25: Wallabies v Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – KO 10:45am
- 22/07/25: First Nations & Pasifika XV v Lions, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne – KO 10:45am
- 26/07/25: Wallabies v Lions, MCG, Melbourne – KO 10:45am
- 02/08/25: Wallabies v Lions, Accor Stadium, Sydney – KO 10:45am
TOUGH QUIZ: Can you name EVERY British & Irish Lions captain of the past 50 Years?
To make this a little bit more difficult, some of the more recent tours included multiple captains, with both needed to be named if you want to ace this Lions Tour quiz. You have six minutes to get all of your answers down, and your time starts... Now!
