Scottish trio called up to Lions squad ahead of Wallabies Test series

The British and Irish Lions have called up Scotland trio Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham ahead of their series against Australia.

The Lions’ squad has swelled to 44 players with the latest additions, who are being brought in to provide cover that will prevent key Test personnel from backing up in next Tuesday’s match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV.

The eighth match on tour takes place before the second Test against the Wallabies in Melbourne on July 26.

Prop Sutherland, hooker Ewan Ashman and wing Darcy Graham have all been summoned from Scotland’s tour, which has moved from Fiji to Auckland, where they will play Samoa this Friday.

It is a case of right time, right place for the Scottish trio in a move by Andy Farrell that is reminiscent of the time when Warren Gatland called up his ‘Geography Six’ on the 2017 tour.

Back then, Tomas Francis, Gareth Davies, Finn Russell, Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey and Allan Dell were summoned to play in the midweek game against the Hurricanes, due to their geographical proximity, to protect the Test matchday 23.

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Graham will link up with the Lions in Brisbane today (Monday), while Sutherland and Ashman will arrive in Melbourne on Sunday.

Winger Graham was deemed unlucky to miss out on selection in the first place and is free to play after his red card in Scotland’s 29-15 loss to Fiji was deemed sufficient punishment.

Sutherland made two Test appearances for the Lions in South Africa four years ago.

Head coach Andy Farrell named a 38-man squad in May, but since arriving in Australia, full-back Jamie Osborne, fly-half/centre Owen Farrell, hooker Jamie George, scrum-half Ben White and prop Tom Clarkson have been added.

Clarkson’s countryman and fellow prop. Finlay Bealham replaced the injured Zander Fagerson before departure.