Tighthead Bealham called up with Furlong also injured
Opoku-Fordjour and George join Portugal training camp
The British & Irish Lions are facing mounting injury problems at tighthead prop with Zander Fagerson ruled out of the tour of Australia amid serious question marks over Tadhg Furlong’s fitness.
Glasgow’s Fagerson has withdrawn from the squad due to a calf injury with the Ireland and Connacht tighthead prop Finlay Bealham added to the 38-man group as a result. Furlong, meanwhile, has not featured for Leinster since the Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton on 3 May and is also battling with a calf injury.
With Bath’s Will Stuart preparing for Saturday’s Premiership final against Leicester, none of the three initially selected tighthead props are available for the Lions training camp in Portugal this week. Furlong would not have been in Portugal even if fully fit, given Leinster’s club commitments, but Lions head coach Andy Farrell will anxiously await updates on the prop. Furlong has started the last six Lions tests.
