Bowe leaving nothing to chance ahead of return

Ireland wing Tommy Bowe is leaving nothing to chance ahead of his expected return to the British & Irish Lions matchday squad for Saturday’s second Test against Australia at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.

The Ulsterman, who played all three Tests for the Lions against South Africa in 2009, missed the series-opening win over the Wallabies last Saturday having broken a bone in his hand against the Queensland Reds on June 8.

Bowe, 29, underwent surgery to stabilise the fracture the following day and yesterday, just 18 days later, was going through some final medical checks ahead of his comeback to the Lions squad announced overnight.

Bowe, in great form when injury struck at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, will wear a protective glove sent out to Australia by Ballincollig, Cork company Mycro Sportsgear, when he makes his much-anticipated entrance into a series the Lions lead 1-0 after their nail-biting 23-21 victory last Saturday.

Head coach Warren Gatland is a big fan of Bowe and intended to start him in the first Test in tandem with fellow wing George North before injury struck. Bowe’s return to fitness was welcomed by Gatland, who said: “Tommy is one of the best players we have got available to us.”