Fit and fresh James Lowe feels for Lions colleagues after year-long season

The Leinster and Ireland wing has recovered from a hamstring injury that ended his 2020/21 campaign long before the season came to a halt with the series in South Africa

James Lowe who has teamed up with Rugby Players Ireland, Zurich and the Z Zurich Foundation to invite Post primary schools to take part in the 2021/2022 Tackle Your Feelings Schools mental wellbeing programme as part of the #ImTakingControl campaign. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

James Lowe will be fit and firing for the new rugby season after injury but the Leinster and Ireland wing can’t help but feel some pity for teammates who will face into the new campaign on the back of a long and draining tour with the British and Irish Lions.

Ireland’s professional players returned to the paddock last August after the first of the lockdowns had been relaxed and sport returned, meaning those on duty in South Africa this summer played rugby for the bones of 12 straight months.