Trio return for final Lions Test but ‘devastated' Garry Ringrose misses out
Back to Sydney for the last dance! 🙌🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/IZ0v2CVuba
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 28, 2025
However, Ringrose has been left 'devastated' as the 12-day minimum return-to-play protocol for concussion means he will miss the entirety of a series which he entered as first choice outside centre.
The Ireland star self-reported his concussion symptoms shortly before the team for the second Test was named last Thursday, resulting in his withdrawal from the starting XV.
'Garry was playing some amazing rugby throughout this tour,' attack coach Andrew Goodman said.
'It's been a dream of his for so long to represent the Lions and he's managed to do that, but he wanted to be a Test-match Lion so it's been devastating for him.
'He's disappointed for himself, but he's getting around everyone and making sure he helps prepare everyone as much as he can.'
Andy Farrell announces his team for the third Test on Thursday and must decide to what extent he should freshen up his matchday 23 given they went toe to toe with the Wallabies for 80 gripping minutes at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
There is also the question of whether to rotate in players as reward for those who have missed out so far in the series, but Goodman has discounted this approach.
'It will be the best team available to win the series. That might look like some changes, that might look like consistency,' he said.
'You've got to reward form when guys have been playing well and are match-hardened in those Test matches. It is a balance.'
The Lions celebrated their success with friends and family for two days but have now hardened their resolve to become the first side to record a whitewash since the 1927 visit to Argentina and first side to go unbeaten in the Tests since the 1974 expedition to South Africa.
Andrew Goodman says the Lions are determined to go through the Test series unbeaten (John Walton/PA).
'It's huge. It's everything for us as a group to get excited about,' Goodman said.
'It was 1974 the last time a Lions team went through the Test series unbeaten, so there's huge motivation for the group.
'Andy has been massive on that since the start, his expectation not just of the players but us as management and coaches to be the most successful team.
'It has been driving us not just as players, but as a management group every day to get better every day and push each other forward.
'After two hard, physical Tests it's about getting the battery filled up and making sure we're good to go by the end of the week.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
19 minutes ago
- Metro
Emma Raducanu demands child is removed from match in tense row with umpire
Emma Raducanu called for a crying child to be removed from the crowd during her narrow defeat to world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati. The British tennis star almost pulled off her biggest victory since her US Open title win in 2021 before Sabalenka triumphed 7-6 (6-2) 4-6 7-6 (7-5). There were tense scenes at an important stage during the third set – while Raducanu was serving – as a screaming child distracted the 22-year-old. A clearly frustrated Raducanu stopped her service action and told Cincinnati Open umpire Miriam Bley: 'It's been, like, 10 minutes [of crying].' The umpire then responded: 'It's a child… Do you want me to kick the child out of the stadium?' Raducanu was seen shrugging but after members of the crowd started replying 'yes', the British No.1 pointed to them and smiled in agreement. 'I can call in, but we need to continue for the moment,' the umpire added during a break in play. After an incredible tally of 13 deuces – and fending off four break points – Raducanu was finally able to hold serve for 4-4 following the incident. There was another flashpoint in the match when Raducanu was told off by the umpire for getting advice from her new tennis coach Francis Roig. Raducanu could be heard saying 'help me understand' mid-match to Roig, only for the umpire to interrupt and shout out: 'Emma, Emma!' The Briton headed back to her seat and was told: 'Emma, you can't actively approach him and he can't leave his position, you know that? You cannot have a conversation.' Raducanu replied: 'I can't hear anything because the music is really loud.' The umpire then added: 'Then he needs to speak louder. You cannot actively approach him and he cannot leave his position, he needs to stay where he is and you cannot actively go towards him. 'What you've done with the ball is fine, but you cannot actively go at the end of a game especially.' World No.39 Raducanu apologised to the umpire, saying: 'Sorry I didn't know.' Raducanu eventually lost via a tie-break in the in the deciding set as Sabalenka survived a fantastic battle to reach the the last 16 in Cincinnati. Tennis journalist and commentator Jose Morgado declared the clash 'one of the best matches of Raducanu's career' in a showdown which lasted three hours and nine minutes. Raducanu is currently gearing up for the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year – the US Open – which gets underway in New York on August 24. MORE: Emma Raducanu makes worrying comment ahead of Washington Open semi-final clash MORE: Emma Raducanu makes sad admission ahead of Naomi Osaka clash in Washington MORE: Who's next for Oleksandr Usyk? Joseph Parker could get his shot but a third fight with Tyson Fury cannot be ruled out
The National
42 minutes ago
- The National
Raducanu knocked out of Cincinnati Open by Sabalenka
Monday's match was the pair's second meeting of the year after Sabalenka edged to victory in their third-round encounter at Wimbledon. Another thrilling outing followed in Cincinnati, where an incredibly tight match lasting over three hours saw Raducanu take the 27-year-old to a third-set tiebreak. In a tense finale, Sabalenka emerged victorious to clinch a 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(5) win. Raducanu's path to the third round of the competition saw her beat Olga Danilovic in the previous match, her first since Rafael Nadal's former coach Francis Roig joined her team. The British number one made a quick start, earning her first break point in the second game of the opening set, before Sabalenka responded with a break of her own and soon levelled the score. Sabalenka looked to have taken control of the match, breaking Raducanu's serve again on her way to winning four successive games, but Raducanu managed to level at 4-4 and showed her strength to snatch the ninth game following a lengthy deuce. A tight tussle saw Sabalenka able to set up a tiebreak and she withstood some solid resistance from the Briton to clinch the first set in just under an hour. Another close contest followed as both players held their serve in the early stages of the second set, but Raducanu managed to shift the momentum by winning a break point in the seventh game to take the lead. The Briton then served out the set in style with an ace to tie the match. How about that game from Emma and Aryna 😳 — Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 11, 2025 Little could separate the pair throughout the third set as both players continued to hold their serve and an incredible eighth game saw 13 deuces take place, with Sabalenka unable to convert four break points before Raducanu finally clinched the game. For the second time in the match the set reached a tiebreaker and, with her second match point, Sabalenka squeezed through to the next round. The world number one will meet Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the round of 16 after the Spaniard beat Taylor Townsend earlier on Monday.
The National
42 minutes ago
- The National
Jack Grealish set for Everton loan amid Man City exit
Meanwhile Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is potentially set to depart Paris St Germain this summer. City give green light to Grealish loan Grealish spent a lot of time in the bench last season (Martin Rickett/PA) Everton have agreed a season-long loan deal with Manchester City for out-of-favour England international Jack Grealish. The PA news agency understands the 29-year-old was due to undergo a medical with the Merseyside club on Monday. Grealish, signed by City in a then British record £100million deal four years ago, will hope the move can rejuvenate his career in a World Cup season. He made just seven Premier League starts after falling down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium last season and was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup in the summer. Palace fail in CAS appeal Crystal Palace have lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League. The FA Cup winners were relegated to the continent's third-tier competition by European governing body UEFA after it determined that American businessman John Textor had 'decisive influence' at both Palace and Lyon after March 1. Nottingham Forest – who travel to Selhurst Park on August 24 – are expected to take the Europa League place. A CAS statement read: 'The panel found that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings, had shares in CPFC and OL (Olympique Lyon) and was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date.' Old Trafford protest on hold The 1958 have called off their planned protest at the weekend (Martin Rickett/PA) A Manchester United supporters' group has postponed a demonstration against the club's ownership planned for the day of their opening game of the Premier League season. The 1958 group had organised a protest march to Old Trafford on August 17, ahead of United's clash with Arsenal, with banners referring to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe . Previous demonstrations have focused on unpopular majority shareholders the Glazers but frustration has now spread to Ratcliffe, who has made series of controversial changes since acquiring a 28.94 per cent stake in United and taking charge of operations last year. However, after conducting a survey, the group has acknowledged opinion is split and the time is not right for a protest. A statement read: 'It's clear there is no unified view on the direction of the club under Ratcliffe. We believe it would be irresponsible to risk creating a situation that could result in any 'red on red' conflict inside or outside the stadium.' Clubs on Donnarumma alert PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could be on the move (Martin Rickett/PA) Gianluigi Donnarumma is open to a move away from Paris St Germain this summer but will not be pushed out by the French club, the PA news agency understands. The Italy goalkeeper has been left out of PSG's squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham, and it is understood he will now leave Paris this summer if the right move opens up. Manchester United have been linked with the 26-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, but it is understood there has been no contact. The European champions completed the signing of Lucas Chevalier from Lille over the weekend. What's on today? Rangers take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech city. The first round of the Carabao Cup also gets under way, featuring clubs from the EFL.
