Owen Farrell is set for his fourth Lions tour after yet another star was lost to injury.
However, the 33-year-old, who is also the son of Lions coach Andy Farrell, has one crucial hurdle to clear before he can take to the field.
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The Lions confirmed Farrell has been drafted in as a replacement for Elliott Daly, who broke his arm in a tackle during the Lions’ 52-12 victory over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Daly was drafted in as a late stand-in for Hugo Keenan at fullback, who was absent due to illness.
“It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliott’s Tour is over,” Lions coach Andy Farrell said.
“He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours.
“Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to this group.”
Farrell will link up with the squad in Sydney on Friday ahead of their clash against the New South Wales Waratahs.
But before Farrell can return to action, Farrell must pass the head-injury return to play protocols.
He was concussed during Racing’s 29-15 loss to Lyon in the Challenge Cup semi-final on May 4.
Farrell also dealt with a niggling groin injury during his time with the French club, meaning he made just 17 appearances in total.
He has since returned to English side Saracens, the club where he spent 16 seasons before the surprise switch to Racing last summer.
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Thanks to the move back to England, he was once again eligible for the England national team.
That’s because rules stipulate players picked for England must compete in the Premiership, meaning Farrell was unable to be picked because Racing compete in France’s Top 14.
Farrell has been absent from the international arena since the 2023 World Cup, where England finished third.
A month after the tournament, Farrell announced he would not play in the 2024 Six Nations ‘to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being.’
Despite his son’s international inactivity, Lions coach Farrell noted the 112-time England star would be in contention should several stars drop out with injury.
“He was in the conversation obviously, an experienced player like that, going for his fourth Tour,” Farrell said when the Lions squad was announced.
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“You cover all bases that’s for sure in terms of the leadership qualities and all of that.
“But we got to a point where, like a few other players, we feel that Owen’s still trying to find his way a little bit back to fitness.
“There’s 38 picked, which leaves a couple of slots open for us down the track if and when needed.
“Owen, like a few other guys, would be in that bracket.”
Along with Daly, the Lions also lost Welsh scrum half Tomos Williams during their 54-7 win over the Western Force to a torn hamstring.
Williams picked up the injury while scoring a try in the 56th minute and was replaced by England’s Alex Mitchell.
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talkSPORT has all of the British and Irish Lions matches live across the network. Eddie Jones is among the star-studded line-up leading the coverage Down Under.
June 20, Dublin: Lions vs Argentina
June 28, Perth:Â Lions vs Western Force
July 2, Brisbane:Â Lions vs Queensland Reds
July 5, Sydney:Â Lions vs New South Wales Waratahs
July 9, Canberra:Â Lions vs ACT Brumbies
July 12, Adelaide:Â Lions v ANZAC XV
July 12, Brisbane:Â Lions v Wallabies
July 22, Melbourne:Â Lions v First Nations and Pasifika XV
July 26, Melbourne:Â Lions v Wallabies
August 2, Sydney:Â Lions v Wallabies
