Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Conor Murray to lead Lions as Welsh duo called up by Warren Gatland

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has called up Welsh duo Josh Navidi and Adam Beard following confirmation of the injury loss of captain Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gatland has also confirmed that Conor Murray will take over as captain of the tour. The 32-year-old is a veteran of two previous tours, but is certainly a left-field decision for Gatland.

A statement reads: “Jones and Tipuric both sustained Tour-ending shoulder injuries during the Lions 28-10 win over Japan at BT Murrayfield Stadium today for The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) takes over as Tour captain from Jones.”

Video Spacer

Maro Itoje | All Access | Episode 3 – Who inspires rugby star Maro Itoje?

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Maro Itoje | All Access | Episode 3 – Who inspires rugby star Maro Itoje?

      Jim Hamilton is reunited with Vitality ambassador and former teammate @maroitoje before he jets off to South Africa for the British & Irish Lions Series.
      Itoje told Jim Hamilton all about what has inspired him to be the best person that he can be in rugby and in life. @vitality_uk

      Ospreys giant Beard, who is currently on international duty with Wayne Pivac’s Wales, joins despite a pre-tour clamour for the addition of Leinster and Ireland’s James Ryan.

      “We’re all incredibly disappointed for Alun Wyn and Justin,” said Gatland. “The timing of these injuries seem particularly cruel given we fly to South Africa tomorrow, but unfortunately they’re part of the game.

      “Alun Wyn will obviously be a big loss, both on and off the field, but will be ably replaced by Connor.

      “Conor is an outstanding rugby player and is held in the highest regard with both the players and coaches. As a three-time Lions tourist, he knows what will be required as captain and I am certain he will lead the squad with excellence. He will also be well supported by an experienced leadership group.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “We plan for Adam and Josh to join up with the touring party before we depart for South Africa tomorrow evening.”

      Exeter Chiefs quartet, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Stuart Hogg, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds will also link up with the 37-man touring party as planned in Edinburgh on Sunday 27 June. Cowan-Dickie was knocked out in today’s Gallagher Premiership final loss to Harlequins but joins the squad nevertheless.

      “His [Alun Wyn Jones’] shoulder dislocated. We’re getting it scanned but it’s looking like we’ll have to replace him,” said Gatland following the warm-up victory over Japan.

      “It’s very disappointing. He’s been around rugby long enough but he’ll be gutted. We need to call someone in, get them PCR tested and hopefully get them on the flight tomorrow.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “The decision’s pretty much made. I was speaking to the physios and they’ve spoken to Alun Wyn. He understands the very best case scenario is that he may get back for the Tests.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

      Saitama Wildknights vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Semi Final Replay

      Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

      Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Solenn Bonnet 15 days ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

      My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

      CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

      EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      WhatsApp.. +15617263697

      website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      Telegram.. +15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'There will be a battle royale for all the shirts over the coming weeks' Mick Cleary: 'There will be a battle royale for all the shirts over the coming weeks'
      Search