Neil Treacy

1 week ago | rte.ie | Neil Treacy

Andy Farrell has allayed fears over the fitness of Jamison Gibson-Park ahead of the British and Irish Lions' opening game against Argentina on Friday night. The Ireland scrum-half missed Leinster's BKT United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls last week with a glute injury, and fears grew over his fitness when England's Jack van Poortvliet was called in as cover for Friday's game at the Aviva.

1 week ago | rte.ie | Neil Treacy

Ireland will have three representatives in the opening British and Irish Lions team of the 2025 campaign, while Tadhg Furlong is set to make his recovery from injury off the bench in Friday's game against Argentina at Aviva Stadium. The tighthead prop, who is now on his third Lions tour, hasn't played since Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints in early May, but has recovered from a calf injury to take his place among the replacements.

1 week ago | rte.ie | Neil Treacy

From an Irish perspective, there's a real familiarity to Andy Farrell’s British and Irish coaching ticket. Between the inclusion of Andrew Goodman, Simon Easterby, John Fogarty and Johnny Sexton in the main group, or even support staff such as David Nucifora, Aled Walters, Vinny Hammond and Gary Keegan, the Lions leadership is heavily populated by those who currently are or recently were involved with the IRFU.

1 week ago | rte.ie | Neil Treacy

England's Jack van Poortvliet has been added to the British and Irish Lions squad for Friday's warm-up game against Argentina at Aviva Stadium. The Leicester Tigers scrum-half, who had been due to feature for England in their game against a France XV on Saturday, has linked up with the squad this morning as cover for Jamison Gibson-Park, who is carrying a minor injury.

1 week ago | rte.ie | Neil Treacy

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