Freeman's costly Lions Test selection
The 24-year-old returns to Brisbane three years after he made his Test debut for England against the Wallabies.
It was on that tour Down Under when Freeman promised to fly his parents Sara and Cliff back to the city in business class should he make a Test appearance for the Lions.
"My parents came to Australia in 2022. It was very last minute because I didn't think I was going to play out here, so I told them not to come," Freeman said.
"I eventually got selected and then they flew out. It was last minute so I told them that if I get picked for the Lions I would pay for their business class seats, which has backfired."
Freeman's mum and dad were already in the country following their son, but his pledge to fly them to Brisbane in upgraded seats worth over £12,000 will come as a welcome gift following an accident.
"I gave them a ring and they are having troubles of their own. Mum has just broken her foot so she has had surgery in Adelaide," he said.
"They were travelling from Canberra to Adelaide and thought they would drive so they pulled over and got some photos.
"It has not gone well on that front so it's a bit of good news for them. Mum's main concern was being fit enough to fly to get here in time.
"They were obviously delighted and all the travelling miles they have put in for me has paid off.
"It's amazing to be able to give back because I am not that pleasant to be around on game day with the nerves. I can be a bit grumpy, so for it all to pay off with moments like this is extra special."
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New York Times
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British and Irish Lions XV to face Australia at the MCG (11am BST, Saturday 26 July): 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan; 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Finn Russell; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Tommy Freeman; 15 Hugo Keenan. : 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan; 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn. Australia XV: 1 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki, 3 Allan Alaalatoa; 4 Nick Frost, 5 Will Skelton; 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.); 9 Jake Gordon, 10 Tom Lynagh; 11 Harry Potter, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen; 15 Tom Wright. : 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Carlo Tizzano; 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Ben Donaldson.
