Jamie Osborne called up to Andy Farrell's Lions squad despite positive Blair Kinghorn update

Osborne had earlier on Thursday been named at outside centre in the Ireland side to face Portugal in Lisbon this Saturday but has now been replaced in the starting line-up by Connacht's Hugh Gavin

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025 - 13:02

Simon Lewis, Adelaide

Ireland's Jamie Osborne has been called up by the British & Irish Lions as cover for the injured Blair Kinghorn, the tourists announced in Thursday.

Full-back Kinghorn hurt his left knee after just seven minutes of the Lions' 36-24 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday and went for a scan on the squad's arrival in Adelaide ahead of their next tour game on Saturday.

The Lions reported that the Toulouse and Scotland back had received positive news following his scan, and will begin a managed return to play programme. In the meantime, though, Osborne has left Ireland’s tour in Portugal and is due to link up with the Lions in Brisbane on Sunday ahead of the first Test against Australia on July 19.

Osborne had earlier on Thursday been named at outside centre in the Ireland side to face Portugal in Lisbon this Saturday but has now been replaced in the starting line-up by Connacht's Hugh Gavin, who had been primed for a debut off the bench. His place among the replacements has now gone to Munster’s Calvin Nash.

Ireland's Hugo Keenan will start at full-back for the Lions against an AUSNZ Invitational XV at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.