Lions winger Hansen a doubt for series-opener against Australia
Hansen did not participate in full training on Tuesday, Lions staff confirmed, a day after Scotland winger Darcy Graham was brought into the Lions squad from New Zealand.
"He hurt his foot in the game, I don't think it is anything serious but he was managed today," Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth told British media.
"Hopefully he will be fully integrated pretty quickly. It is nothing that we are overly concerned about but we need to make sure we have enough numbers at training.
"But it doesn't look too serious. A doubt is anyone who didn't train fully today, but he's definitely not ruled out."
Hansen adds to the Lions' backline concerns following injuries to fullback Blair Kinghorn and centre Garry Ringrose.
Fullback Elliot Daly left Australia after being ruled out of the series with a fractured arm.
Hugo Keenan, who started in the 48-0 thumping of AUNZ at Adelaide Oval, is expected to start at fullback for the Lions, with Marcus Smith able to provide cover from the bench.
Flyhalf/centre Owen Farrell is another midfield option for head coach and father Andy Farrell, who already has Bundee Aki, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in his squad.
Owen Farrell was solid in his 30-minute cameo at inside centre against AUNZ, and Wigglesworth said he was enjoying working with the former England captain.
"He's been great, as we knew he would be. Not everyone did, but we knew," said Wigglesworth.
"You all know how good he is, the influence he has, his knowledge and how he helps other people get better.
"He's the influential Owen that we know and love."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
16 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt disagree over ref call as Lions clinch series win
The Lions clinched a 29-26 victory in the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground but there was high drama in the closing seconds as the match officials examined a potentially-dangerous clearout by Jac Morgan earlier in the move. Captains Harry Wilson and Maro Itoje attempted to influence referee Andrea Piardi during the decision-making process before it was eventually judged that Morgan's contact with Carlo Tizzano was legal. Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 If Keenan's try had been chalked off, the series would have gone to a decider in Sydney next Saturday. Instead, the Lions have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead. 'It was a brilliant clearout. I couldn't understand what they were going back for,' Lions head coach Farrell said. 'They seem to go back for absolutely everything these days, don't they? I'm so pleased that the referee held his nerve. The right decision in my opinion.' Furious Australia boss Schmidt felt the outcome reached by Piardi was at odds with the game's push to improve player safety and accused the Italian of failing to implement the laws. Dan Sheehan crossed over for the Lions' opening try (David Davies/PA) 'Just watch the footage,' said Schmidt, who insisted the incident taking place in the final minute influenced the verdict. 'You just have to read law 9.20 and you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the footage when two players are described as arriving at the same time. 'You cannot hit someone above the levels of the shoulders and there's no bind with the left arm, his hand is on the ground. That's what we have seen. 'We have watched a number of replays from different angles so it is what it is. We just have to accept it. 'Players make errors. Match officials make errors. Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they are talking about. Schmidt also placed a spotlight on Dan Sheehan's 16th-minute try when he took a quick tap penalty and crossed the whitewash by launching himself into the air. The try was allowed to stand because he dived while in the act of scoring, but Schmidt insisted the fact he was airborne made him virtually impossible to stop. 'World Rugby are trying to make sure that we are tackling lower and so we had two tacklers going in to tackle low – and he dived and scored,' the Kiwi said. 'He is pretty much head first so what do we do to stop him scoring apart from stopping his head? There's not much else you can do.' Farrell declared that winning the series is 'what dreams are made of', while Itoje targeted a whitewash of the Wallabies. 'When we first met, big Faz made the call. He wanted us to come here and win everything,' Itoje said. 'So don't get me wrong, we're absolutely delighted with the result, but we want to go again next weekend.'
The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ray French, former BBC rugby league commentator, dies aged 85
Ray French, the former rugby league commentator, has died at the age of 85. He had been living with dementia. He played internationally in union, winning four caps in the second row for England in 1961, before moving to league and joining his home town club, St Helens, that year and helped them win the Challenge Cup in 1966. He appeared four times for Great Britain, in 1968. After 204 appearances for Saints he joined Widnes in 1967, playing 123 games for the Chemics. Away from the pitch he was rugby master at Cowley high school. French succeeded Eddie Waring as the BBC's rugby league commentator in 1981 and retired in 2019. In 2011, he was awarded an MBE for services to rugby league. Dave Woods, his successor at the BBC, said on X: 'So many fabulous memories of Ray as both friend and colleague. He injected incredible warmth and passion in his commentary and journalism. Just a wonderful, kind and humble man. You always wanted to be in his company.' Jonathan Davies, his co-commentator on the BBC for many years, said on X: 'Had many great days with Ray he was such a lovely man. I hope the RL appreciated what great work did for the game.'
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ray French dead at 85: Sport in mourning after veteran commentator known as 'the voice of rugby league' passes away
Ray French, regarded by many as the voice of rugby league, has died at the age of 85. French commentated on the sport on BBC television for 32 years, having taken over from the great Eddie Waring in 1981. As a player, he won four caps for England in rugby union in 1961, before switching to league and making four appearances for Great Britain. French played more than 200 times for his hometown team St Helens, winning the league and Challenge Cup double in 1966, and finished his career at Widnes. After turning to broadcasting, he commentated on every Challenge Cup final between 1982 and 2008, before retiring from TV duties following the 2013 World Cup. In recent years, he suffered from dementia. Jonathan Davies, the Welsh cross-code rugby legend who worked with French as a co-commentator for the BBC, said: 'Really sad news of the passing of my friend and legend rugby player and broadcaster. 'I know Ray had not been well for a while so I hope he passed peacefully. Had many great days with Ray. He was such a lovely man. I hope the RL appreciated what great work did for the game.' Barrie McDermott, the former Leeds and Great Britain star and Sky Sports pundit, added: 'A genuine rugby league legend and the voice of our sport for so many. 'A master of his trade, a man who had time for everyone. Always good with me, generous with his advice and kind with his time. Thoughts with his family and many friends. Rest in peace Ray.'
