Centre Garry Ringrose is out of the British and Irish Lions’ first Test against Australia next Saturday in Brisbane, while hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is a major doubt, says head coach Andy Farrell.
Ringrose, 30, was in strong contention to start the first Test but suffered a concussion in the Lions’ victory over ACT Brumbies on Wednesday.
Farrell confirmed the Ireland centre, who scored and was a standout performer against the Brumbies, would be available for the midweek game against First Nations and Pasifika XV on 22 July, before the second Test in Melbourne on 26 July.
Scotland’s Huw Jones delivered another impressive performance on Saturday in an eight-try win against the AUNZ Invitational XV and now looks certain to start the opening Test at outside centre.
The 31-year-old has started his past two Lions games alongside Scotland and Glasgow Warriors centre partner Sione Tuipulotu, which could now be Farrell’s first-Test midfield combination.
Ireland utility back Jamie Osborne was called up to the Lions squad on Thursday as “training cover” for Scotland full-back Kinghorn and is comfortable playing at centre or full-back.
“Garry had a delayed reaction. He had headaches for a day and it carried on for the next day so he went through concussion protocols and failed those,” Farrell said.
“Unfortunately for him and for us he’s [out for] 12 days, so that puts him out of the first Test and back in for the midweek game before the second Test.
“You don’t mess around with these things and it is unfortunate for him and everyone else. He’s in good spirits anyway, so we crack on.”
