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Farrell is set to release players from his squad on Wednesday(Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)
These are your evening rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 22.
Lions star ‘so upset’
British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell says wing Darcy Graham was “so upset” after being forced off with injury just 15 minutes into his debut for the touring side. The Scotland international got off to a dream start as he crossed for the Lions’ second try against the First Nations & Pasifika XV with 11 minutes on the clock, but his special night was cut short just moments later as he left the field with what looked to be an ankle injury.
Graham, who was only called into the squad last week, couldn’t hide his disappointment as he burst into tears on the sidelines, with coaching staff and team-mates including fellow Scotland star Finn Russell consoling him.
He left Tuesday night’s game at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in a protective boot and he is now set to undergo a scan on Wednesday, according to Farrell. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
With Graham’s involvement on the rest of the tour now plunged into doubt, his head coach told Sky Sports after the game that his early exit from the action was “upsetting” for all involved, but maintained that the back should be proud of his achievement.
“It’s so upsetting, he was so upset,” said Farrell. “You could see how much it meant to him hobbling off.
“[But] he’s got a Lions cap, he’s played for the British and Irish Lions and scored a try, he’ll remember that forever.”
Just yesterday, Graham spoke of his excitement at being part of the touring squad, as well as his determination to make it through to the end of the tour.
“Absolutely delighted to be here now,” he said. “Obviously, I was really disappointed not to be in the initial squad, but to be part of now, I’m absolutely buzzing.
“To see the cap ceremony we had a couple of days ago and the boys here getting presented with the caps and the jersey, it made me realise how much I wanted to play for the Lions, and I’m absolutely buzzing to get that opportunity tomorrow.”
“One of my goals now is to stay out [until the end of the tour],” he added. “This whole week, I’ve loved it, and now I’m getting to know the boys, things are getting a lot easier. I want to stay, I want to be involved right to the end now. So that is one of my goals, and I’ve got an opportunity to prove that tomorrow night.”
Players to depart imminently
Farrell has also revealed that he will confirm which recent call-ups to his squad will head home again on Wednesday.
The head coach has recently drafted in several players to provide cover, with Scotland back row Gregor Brown joining up with the squad earlier this week.
Brown joined a trio of his fellow countrymen in Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Graham, who was the only one of the three to join the squad before the Lions’ opening Test victory over Australia on Saturday. Ireland tight-head prop Tom Clarkson, utility back Jamie Osborne and England hooker Jamie George have all also recently joined the squad as cover.
Farrell has now confirmed that he is prepared to let some players not in contention for the final two Tests fly home tomorrow. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
However, he is not ruling out the possibility of calling for more replacements, if the likes of Graham or any other player in a specialist position is ruled out of the tour.
“You have to assess how long it will take you to get someone over,” said Farrell after his side’s win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
“But to get to this late stage and call for guys from the other end of the world and to get them here to cover or to be part of the matchday takes time.”
He added that Graham is in a different position to the other late call-ups, as the 28-year-old was called up due to an injury to Ireland star Mack Hansen.
“Darcy was different because we had an injury [to Hansen],” the head coach said. “He was next cab off the rank. He’ll have a scan in the morning.”
Farrell also gave an injury update on some of his other players, as he said of Hansen: “He is progressing, but whether he is progressing quick enough, we will see towards the end of the week. We have got a day off tomorrow, so it gives us a bit of space.”
He also confirmed that Marcus Smith was “fine” after undergoing an HIA during Tuesday’s win in Melbourne, adding: “He’s passed everything.”
As for Ireland forward Joe McCarthy, who went off early against Australia after struggling with plantar fasciitis, Farrell said a decision would soon be made on his fitness.
“Joe hasn’t trained so far with the nature of the week, which is a bit different,” he added. “So we will see how he is on Thursday; hopefully, he might be in contention, but we will see.”
Farrell: Second Test ‘biggest game of our lives’
by Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Melbourne
Farrell has braced his Lions squad for the “biggest game of our lives” in Saturday’s second Test against Australia after the First Nations and Pasifika XV were dispatched 24-19 in Melbourne.
The Lions retained their 100 per cent record in seven matches Down Under but only after surviving a scare against scratch opponents comprising of players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage.
It was the first time since arriving in Australia that they faced the prospect of losing but they weathered the storm to register an important victory ahead of their attempt at clinching the series against the Wallabies at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“There will have to be plenty of improvement to get to the point where there’s a win on the cards because we know that Australia are going to be a lot better,” Farrell said.
“If you can’t get up for what’s coming, we’re all in the wrong place. To me, this is the biggest game of our lives for every one of us who is part of our squad.”
Cardiff confirm pre-season fixtures
Cardiff Rugby will take on Richmond FC and Leinster as part of their pre-season preparations for the 2025/26 campaign.
Matt Sherratt’s side will take on Richmond, who last season were promoted to the second-tier of English rugby, on Saturday, September 6, before facing reigning URC champions Leinster in Dublin a week later.
The fixture against Richmond will be the first time that Cardiff’s senior side have faced the English outfit since the 1998/99 Rebel Season, and will double up as part of the Welsh region’s annual ‘Summerfest’ event.
“We’re really looking forward to getting stuck into the season ahead and these fixtures against Richmond and Leinster, as well as some opposed sessions we have planned, will be a springboard,” said Sherratt.
“We know how important starting the season is in this competitions and these fixtures will give us a great platform to put everything we are working on into practice.
“The Wales boys return in about four week’s time, so they won’t feature against Richmond but the whole squad will be in attendance on what promises to be a great afternoon where we can all mix together before the new season,” the head coach added.
“Preparations will then go up a notch against Leinster, and they will obviously present a really good test and experience for our group.”