Jamie George handed emergency last-minute call up to British & Irish Lions squad to replace injured hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie ahead of Australia Test
The 34-year-old is rapidly responding to an emergency call-up from Andy Farrell, in order to provide cover for fellow England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who appeared to be knocked out during the 48-0 win over an Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV here. Cowan-Dickie is expected to join Ireland centre Garry Ringrose as a concussion casualty who will be unavailable for the first Test against the Wallabies next Saturday.
Cowan-Dickie was left motionless on the pitch in the first half at the Adelaide Oval after attempting to tackle opposition lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. He was treated for several minutes before being stretchered off with his neck in a brace. Shortly after half-time, the Sale veteran was seen walking around the perimeter of the field towards the tunnel and waving to nearby Lions fans.
While he goes through return-to-play protocols, George will set off from San Juan – where England take on the Pumas on Saturday – and fly to Brisbane via stops in Buenos Aires and Dubai. He will meet up with the Lions squad early next week as an experienced, pedigree reinforcement. Dan Sheehan will be the tourists' starting hooker in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium, under-studied by compatriot Ronan Kelleher, but George will provide vital, additional cover.
Meanwhile, the setback for Ringrose has created more upheaval for Lions head coach Farrell, as he seeks to fine-tune his selection plans for the first Test. The Leinster and Ireland centre had given himself every chance of inclusion in the starting XV with a commanding midweek display in the win over the Brumbies in Canberra, but he later began to suffer from concussion symptoms.
'Garry unfortunately had a delayed reaction, headaches for a day which carried on the next day,' said Farrell. 'He went through concussion protocols and failed those. Unfortunately for Garry and for us, he's out for 12 days. So, he is out of the first Test, but he could be back for the midweek game between the Tests.'
The untimely head knock for Ringrose has created an opportunity for Scotland centre Huw Jones to claim the No 13 shirt for the first Test, but the overall make-up of the midfield will remain a subject of intrigue until Farrell names his line-up on Thursday in Brisbane.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto earns Wallabies call-up for South Africa Tests
Powerful lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has earned a return to the Wallabies' squad for the two Tests in South Africa to kick off this year's Rugby Championship, but injuries in the halves have forced coach Joe Schmidt to call on Nic White a week after his supposed retirement from international rugby. The Wallabies showed progress in the series against the British & Irish Lions and won the third Test to prevent a whitewash, but they cannot afford to rest heading into the clashes with the top-ranked Springboks, who beat the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup final. The 35-player squad is similar to the one selected for the Lions series, but with some new faces, including three uncapped players. Salakaia-Loto, who has been out of the Australian squad so far this year, wins a place after starring for the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the Lions three weeks ago. He played off the bench in the last of his 41 Wallabies appearances against Ireland late last year. Schmidt said the group has made 'some positive steps' during the start of the international season but there is work ahead. 'It's pleasing to be able to keep the core of the group together, while also leaning on some depth and fresh bodies,' he said. 'We're very conscious of how difficult it is going to be, playing South Africa on their home turf over two consecutive weekends.' Fly half Tane Edmed has been called up due to the concussion suffered by Tom Lynagh in Sydney. Lynagh himself was only thrust into the starting lineup for the Lions series following the neck injury to Noah Lolesio. Ben Donaldson has the inside running to start at No 10, having been named on the bench for all the Lions Tests. Edmed made his Wallabies debut last year against Ireland but it ended three minutes after he came on due to a concussion. He has struggled to cement the No 10 at the Waratahs this year, and has signed a contract with the Brumbies to replace Lolesio, who is leaving Super Rugby to play in Japan. There is more uncertainty at scrumhalf due to the hamstring injury to Jake Gordon that saw him miss the third Test. It means an SOS to White, who takes his place alongside Tate McDermott and the uncapped Brumby Ryan Lonergan in the squad. Lonergan's teammate in the ACT, winger Corey Toole, and new Queensland Reds recruit Aidan Ross are the other uncapped players named, although Ross played a single Test for New Zealand in 2022. He has moved from the Chiefs to the Reds this year. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa keeps his place after his belated call-up for the third Lions Test. His selection was made more likely by the retirement announcement this week of David Porecki. Young centre Josh Flook and hooker Josh Nasser joined their Reds teammate Salakaia-Loto as new faces in the squad, which will play the first Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on 16 August. The second Test is a week later in Cape Town. Wallabies squad Forwards: Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Dylan Pietsch, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Nic White, Tom Wright
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Footy star at the centre of betting scandal reveals why he shocked the AFL by retiring aged just 25 - and the very surprising job he's doing now
Former AFL star Jaidyn Stephenson has opened up about the mental struggle that led to his shock retirement from professional footy aged just 25. Stephenson was infamously banned for 10 games in 2019 after it emerged that he'd bet same-game multis on three Magpies matches he played in. Speaking on the What Could've Been podcast, the ex-Collingwood and North Melbourne forward said winning just eight games across 68 appearances for the Kangaroos ruined his appetite for the game. 'I had games where I had 24 (disposals) and kicked three, and then you come out of your game review, and I felt pretty flat,' the 2018 AFL Rising Star winner said. 'It was like, "I've done this wrong and I've done that wrong" – is it because we lost or is it actually what it is? 'I don't know, everything just seemed to be amplified, and I obviously didn't deal with it well enough. Stephenson (pictured with Collingwood stars Nick and Josh Daicos) was banned for 10 games in 2019 after it emerged he bet same–game multis on three Magpies matches he played in 'Eventually I just didn't want to be there — fell out of love with it, was over it. It was tough.' The former No.6 draft pick, who spent four seasons at the Kangaroos after his three years at Collingwood, started to consider his future in the game at the end of his second year at Arden Street. 'I had that off–season to think about things, and we'd won like four games in the two years I'd been there, I'd played every game, and I just thought, 'Geez, this is a real drag',' he said. 'I didn't want to go back. '(But) I was like, I don't really have a choice, I'm signed for two more years. 'In the end it was just deflating.' Stephenson – who played in the 2018 grand final for the Magpies – now works as an apprentice refrigerator mechanic. He plays local footy for his junior club Ferntree Gully in the Eastern Football Netball League – and regrets not considering another AFL club before hanging up his boots. '(At the time) I thought I'm better off just getting out of the AFL bubble completely and just seeing how life is outside of that,' he said. 'Now I look back, it probably may have helped had I gone somewhere else.' Stephenson also courted controversy when he stated in 2021 the Covid pandemic was overblown by the media.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Mo'unga signs New Zealand Rugby deal, eligible for All Blacks in 2026
Aug 7 (Reuters) - Flyhalf Richie Mo'unga will return to New Zealand rugby next season and be eligible to play for the All Blacks from October, 2026, as part of an 18-month contract announced on Thursday. The deal will see the Japan-based playmaker rejoin Canterbury for the 2026 National Provincial Championship and the Crusaders from the 2027 Super Rugby season. "We're really pleased to have Richie re-committing to New Zealand Rugby," Chief Executive Mark Robinson said in a statement. "He's a proven talent with a strong track record of performing on the biggest stages." Mo'unga, capped 56 times for the All Blacks and a winner of seven championship trophies at the Crusaders, has been ineligible to play for New Zealand since leaving for Japan after the 2023 World Cup in France. New Zealand Rugby restricts test selection to home-based players to try to protect its domestic competitions from talent drain. His former coach at the Crusaders, Scott Robertson, is now the All Blacks coach and has been vocal about wanting Mo'unga home and pushing for selection. Mo'unga helped Brave Lupus Tokyo seal back-to-back Japan Rugby League One titles in June while playing with a fractured hand. "He has this gift of bringing out the best in those around him and we can't wait to have him back in 2027," Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said. Mo'unga's return to New Zealand a year before the 2027 World Cup in Australia will be welcomed by home fans and give Robertson another option for the coveted number 10 jersey. In Mo'unga's absence, Beauden Barrett has been Robertson's starting flyhalf in most recent tests, with Damien McKenzie the back-up playmaker.
