By Michael Davey
Tomos Williams has been ruled out of the rest of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia due to a hamstring injury sustained in the second half of the 54-7 victory over the Western Force on Saturday, June 28.
He will be replaced by Scotland scrum-half Ben White, who makes the short trip across the pond from New Zealand, where Gregor Townsend’s charges are preparing for games against Fiji and Samoa.
The scrum-half’s departure leaves flanker Jac Morgan as Wales’ only remaining Lions representative – a sorry state of affairs for a once-proud rugby nation.
Williams ‘an exemplary Lion’
After just two appearances on his debut Lions tour, Gloucester star Williams was already in the frame to start at number nine in the first Test against Australia on July 19.
However, the newly crowned Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season must now return home and start the long road to recovery.
Lions manager Ieuan Evans sympathised with Williams’ situation, saying: “This is desperately sad news for Tomos and we wish him all the very best in his recovery.
“Tomos is an exemplary Lion who has had a brilliant season, having joined the tour after being named Premiership Rugby’s Player of the Season. He lit up this Lions tour with his personality and his talent.”
READ MORE: Irish stars lead British and Irish Lions to emphatic victory over Western Force
Farrell laments ‘shocking’ news
Lions head coach Andy Farrell admitted that the loss of Williams somewhat dents the tourists’ hopes Down Under, although the arrivals of White and fellow Scotland international Blair Kinghorn should go some way to softening the blow.
“It’s shocking news for us all,” he said.
“We’re not just going to miss an outstanding player – he played unbelievably well and it was some try that he was actually injured by.
“We’re also going to miss the bloke. We have only been together for a few weeks now, but his character is everything you want to have in your group on a Lions tour. He’s very popular and that makes it a little bit tougher.
“Ben will be devastated for Tomos, like we all are. But at the same time, he’s super excited. He obviously had ambition to get into the squad – as did many others who didn’t get selected – so now he gets his chance.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: F1 news: George Russell waiting in the wings as Mercedes prioritise bigger picture
Geoffrey H. Latayan