Ryan Grant has been called up by the British & Irish Lions as injury cover for Gethin Jenkins.
The Welsh loosehead, who was supposed to start against the Reds tomorrow in Brisbane, failed to recover from a calf strain and is replaced by England‘s Mako Vunipola in the starting XV. Dan Cole comes on the bench for Vunipola.
Jenkins’ withdrawal comes only hours after Cian Healy was cleared of biting Western Force Brett Sheehan but had to pull out of the tour with ligament damage to his ankle.
As a result, Lions boss Warren Gatland has called on Scotland‘s Grant who is in South Africa with Scotland ahead of the inaugural quadrangular tournament against the Springboks, Italy and Samoa.
Grant said: “This time last year I got my first cap. Now I’m heading out to Australia to represent Scotland for the Lions.
“What can you say? It’s been so fast I’ve not really had time to process it. It’s the top of the game. To call myself a Lion is the greatest honour.”