Latest news with #GregorBrown
Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Times
Three-day tours and ‘whirlwind' of the short-term Lions call-up
T he last time the British & Irish Lions had a 2-0 lead, they were in action on the Tuesday before the third Test. Midweek fixtures make the Lions a 'glorious anachronism' but they also induce headaches. As recently as 2005 there were 'dirt-tracker' outings before every international, whereas in 2025, even one final tune-up before the second Test is treated as a money-spinning hindrance to survive. This selectorial neuralgia has led to short-term call-ups, such as the radio commentator Shane Williams in 2013 and the 'Geography Six' of 2017. For all their merits as rugby men, many will tar Gregor Brown, Tom Clarkson et al with that brush. Yet unlikely Lions are a rich part of the team's history. Go back far enough and you will find Bill Cunningham, the former Ireland half back working as a dentist in South Africa, co-opted into the bruised 1924 squad.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions call up Scotland lock ahead of second Test as squad grows again
The British and Irish Lions have summoned Scotland lock Gregor Brown to join their touring party ahead of the second Test in Melbourne. The 24-year-old started Scotland's win over Samoa in Auckland on Friday night and will fly across the Tasman to bolster Andy Farrell's options ahead of the tour game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night. Compatriots Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman have made the same journey after the prop and hooker were called up as cover last week, while wing Darcy Graham has already joined up with the Lions. It comes with Farrell seemingly unwilling to risk many of those involved in the first Test victory over Australia in Brisbane on Saturday night. There is also an injury concern over Joe McCarthy, who was replaced while dealing with plantar fasciitis during the second half at Suncorp Stadium. Brown, the cousin of Lions full-back Blair Kinghorn, can also play on the blindside and made his Scotland debut against Canada last summer. He featured in all five games of their Six Nations campaign, starting the defeat to France in Paris on the final weekend. Another call-up bloats the group in Australia to 45 players, with Brown's proximity surely a factor given the short turnaround to the Tuesday night meeting with the First Nations & Pasifika side. Farrell had suggested that his Test players may be involved in the game, and believes that whoever he selects will be ready to go as the Lions look to continue their unbeaten run since arriving in Australia. 'People won't be volunteering,' Farrell said after the first Test. 'They will do whatever it takes to make sure that this squad moves forward together. 'We care about the squad and nothing but the squad. That's how it's been the whole time. We've never separated once. We've been all in everything together. 'We'll enjoy this victory tonight together. Then everyone will roll in on Monday to make sure that team, in an extended captain's run like we've been doing over the past four of five weeks, is (given) as good a preparation as we've had all tour. It matters to us on Tuesday night as a group.'
STV News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Six Scots to start for Lions against First Nations & Pasifika XV
Six Scotland players will start for the British and Irish Lions in their game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Andy Farrell has named his team for the match being played in Melbourne on Tuesday. Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White, Pierre Schoeman, and Scott Cummings are all in the starting side while Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, and Gregor Brown are named among the replacements. Kinghorn, lining up at full-back, has the chance to prove his fitness for the Melbourne Cricket Ground showdown after missing the series opener in Brisbane with a knee injury. Owen Farrell, making his maiden start of the tour 17 days after being called to replace Elliot Daly, will lead the side at the Marvel Stadium. The former England captain forges a midfield partnership with fellow late arrival Jamie Osborne. It will be the first time in four tours that he has skippered the Lions, and his selection presents the opportunity to play his way into contention for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies. Alex Mitchell is set to continue his remarkable run of having played in every match on tour after being picked on the bench, where he is joined by Ben Earl and Marcus Smith, who are also backing up, having been involved in Saturday's 27-19 win against Australia. Garry Ringrose has recovered from the concussion that forced him to miss out at Suncorp Stadium to secure a replacement's role for the final midweek game of the tour. The Ireland star was favourite to start the Test series at outside centre until he suffered his head injury, resulting in Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu being paired together in their tried and tested all-Scotland combination. There are three specialist opensides in the back row in Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock, each of whom has an outside chance of winning a place on the bench for the second Test. Apart from Farrell and Osborne, there are seven further late additions to the squad involved in Graham, White, Jamie George, Ashman, Sutherland, Tom Clarkson, and Gregor Brown. 'This fixture gives players another opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the final two Tests,' Lions head coach Andy Farrell said. 'The coaches' minds are open when it comes to selection, they have to be with so many players performing and pushing for places and we want that to continue for the remaining two Tests. 'This group know the level of performance that we will require against a First Nations Pasifika team that is packed with talent and power.' B Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland); D Graham (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland), J Osborne (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), O Farrell (Saracens/England, capt), D van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland); F Smith (Northampton Saints/England), B White (Toulon/Scotland); P Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland), J George (Saracens/England), F Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), J Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), S Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), J van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), H Pollock (Northampton Saints/England). Replacements: E Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland), R Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), T Clarkson (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), G Brown (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), G Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland). Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Lions call-up Scotland star to cover for Joe McCarthy after he picked up injury in first Test - as Andy Farrell faces changing winning team
The Lions are in danger of being forced to change a winning team for the second Test, after calling up Scotland lock Gregor Brown as cover for the injured Joe McCarthy of Ireland. Brown arrived in camp with the British and Irish squad after their flight here from Brisbane, joining compatriots Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman as reinforcements, taking the number of players on duty up to 45. The trio, along with Ireland prop Tom Clarkson, are set to be involved in the game against a First Nations-Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium tomorrow. McCarthy suffered a foot injury in the 27-19 win over Australia in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last Saturday. He was forced to leave the field just after half-time and amid doubts about his availability for the next international match, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. Brown has been summoned to take part in the midweek fixture and ensure England's Ollie Chessum is kept fit and fresh for the second Test. If McCarthy is ruled out of the pivotal encounter with the Wallabies – which would be a setback for the Lions, given his thunderous impact in Brisbane – the most likely fall-back plan would see Chessum promoted to partner his compatriot, captain Maro Itoje, in the second row. Meanwhile, the tourists' head coach, Andy Farrell, is optimistic that injured backs Garry Ringrose, Mack Hansen and Blair Kinghorn can recover from injuries in time to be in contention for a role in the match-day 23 for the second Test. The Lions will come up against a First Nations-Pasifika XV side captained from fly-half by veteran utility back Kurtley Beale – while Taniela 'Tongan Thor' Tupou will line up at tighthead prop, in the hope of forcing his way into Wallabies contention.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions call up Scotland lock ahead of second Test as squad grows again
The British and Irish Lions have summoned Scotland lock Gregor Brown to join their touring party ahead of the second Test in Melbourne. The 24-year-old started Scotland's win over Samoa in Auckland on Friday night and will fly across the Tasman to bolster Andy Farrell's options ahead of the tour game against the First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night. Compatriots Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman have made the same journey after the prop and hooker were called up as cover last week, while wing Darcy Graham has already joined up with the Lions. It comes with Farrell seemingly unwilling to risk many of those involved in the first Test victory over Australia in Brisbane on Saturday night. There is also an injury concern over Joe McCarthy, who was replaced while dealing with plantar fasciitis during the second half at Suncorp Stadium. Brown, the cousin of Lions full-back Blair Kinghorn, can also play on the blindside and made his Scotland debut against Canada last summer. He featured in all five games of their Six Nations campaign, starting the defeat to France in Paris on the final weekend. Another call up bloats the group in Australia to 45 players, with Brown's proximity surely a factor given the short turnaround to the Tuesday night meeting with the First Nations & Pasifika side. Farrell had suggested that his Test players may be involved in the game, and believes that whoever he selects will be ready to go as the Lions look to continue their unbeaten run since arriving in Australia. 'People won't be volunteering,' Farrell said after the first Test. 'They will do whatever it takes to make sure that this squad moves forward together. 'We care about the squad and nothing but the squad. That's how it's been the whole time. We've never separated once. We've been all in everything together. 'We'll enjoy this victory tonight together. Then everyone will roll in on Monday to make sure that team, in an extended captain's run like we've been doing over the past four of five weeks, is (given) as good a preparation as we've had all tour. It matters to us on Tuesday night as a group."
