Sharks prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour has been called up to train with the British and Irish Lions squad ahead of a six-day training camp in Portugal.
The 20-year-old, who only made his England debut in November, joins fellow Sharks Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie in the squad, which will travel to Quinta da Lago tomorrow.
Players involved in the Premiership Rugby and URC finals will join the squad in Ireland next week ahead of the 1888 Cup match in Dublin against Argentina.
Scotland and Glasgow Warriors tight-head prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the Tour with a calf injury, with Ireland and Connacht’s Finlay Bealham called up to replace him.
England’s Jamie George, who was a Lions Tourist in 2017 and 2021, will also travel to Portugal to train with the squad.
Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell said: “It’s tough on Zander to miss out so close to the Tour, but now Finlay gets an opportunity to come in and add to the group. This is unfortunately part and parcel of the game, so we always have to be prepared for that.
“But it’s great to finally be at the stage where we can get onto the training ground and get to work with these players.
“Portugal will be really important for us as we look to get our house in order with only a few training sessions before we take on Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin.”
The British & Irish Lions Squad (Portugal Camp)
Forwards:
Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England) #851
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Jamie George (Saracens/England) #819
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) #825 (C)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks/England)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
Backs:
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) #822
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
2025 British & Irish Lions Fixtures
20/06/25:1888 Cup - Lions v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, KO 8pm
2025 Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Series
28/06/25:Western Force v The Lions, Optus Stadium, Perth, KO 10:45am
02/07/25:Queensland Reds v The Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, KO 10:45am
05/07/25:NSW Waratahs v The Lions, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, KO 10:45am
09/07/25:ACT Brumbies v The Lions, Gio Stadium, Canberra, KO 10:45am
12/07/25:Invitational AU & NZ v The Lions, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, KO 10:15am
19/07/25:Wallabies v The Lions, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, KO 10:45am
22/07/25:First Nations & Pasifika XV v The Lions, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, KO 10:45am
26/07/25:Wallabies v The Lions, MCG, Melbourne, KO 10:45am
02/08/25:Wallabies v The Lions, Accor Stadium, Sydney, KO 10:45am
