Veteran England hooker Jamie George is set to add a third British & Irish Lions tour to his already impressive resume, having been called into the touring squad currently preparing in Australia. George`s inclusion provides immediate cover following an injury sustained by his international teammate, Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Cowan-Dickie was forced off the field during the Lions` recent warm-up fixture against the ANZAC XV. The Exeter Chiefs front-rower received a blow to the head, and while initial reports suggest the injury is not overly severe, it has unfortunately ruled him out of contention for the crucial first Test against the Wallabies, scheduled for July 19th.
George, an experienced campaigner with previous Lions tours in 2017 (New Zealand) and 2021 (South Africa), will join the touring party directly from Argentina. He is currently with the England squad for their Test series but will make the journey to link up with the Lions ahead of the opening Test match.
In a slight, perhaps classic, Lions tour twist, indications are that Cowan-Dickie`s injury may not necessitate his complete withdrawal from the squad for the entire tour. This presents the coaching staff with the potential scenario of having both seasoned hookers available later in the campaign, offering significant depth in a position vital to the team`s set-piece and breakdown performance.
Gareth Pendleton