FINLAY BEALHAM yesterday became the 16th Ireland player in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad after being called up to replace injured Scotland prop Zander Fagerson.
Fagerson has been ruled out of the tour to Australia due to a calf injury.
And Farrell — currently on sabbatical from his Ireland head coach duties — has turned to the familiar face of Connacht man Bealham, 33, who will join his provincial pals Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki Down Under.
Devastated tighthead Fagerson, 29, suffered his injury in training with Glasgow in April and has not played since.
Farrell said: “It’s tough on Zander to miss out so close to the tour but Finlay now 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. But it’s great to finally be at the stage where we can get on to the training ground and get to work with these players.”
The Lions squad gathered in Dublin yesterday ahead of a six-day training camp in Portugal.
The knock-on effect of Bealham’s Lions addition sees another Connacht player, uncapped tighthead Jack Aungier, 26, added to Ireland’s squad for the Tests against Georgia and Portugal in July.
