Lions prop Fagerson ruled out of Australia tour

Scotland prop Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia with a calf injury.

His club, Glasgow Warriors, confirmed the news on X, adding: “We’re all behind you, Z – we know you’ll come back even stronger.”

Fagerson, 29, last featured for Glasgow in early April and was absent as they lost Saturday’s United Rugby Championship play-off semi-final to Leinster in Dublin.

Capped more than 70 times by Scotland, the tighthead toured South Africa with the Lions in 2021 and featured against Sigma Lions.

It’s a sad reality that many players achieve their ultimate goal of being selected for the Lions, only to see injury snatch that dream away before they get their hands on that famous red jersey. It happens every four years.

It’s particularly cruel that’s it’s happened to Zander Fagerson, though. He was the only Scot out of eight selected for the 2021 tour to South Africa that did not see any action in the Test series.

On the day it was announced he had been selected for this summer’s tour to Australia, Fagerson spoke to BBC Scotland of how he felt he had not done himself justice four years ago, hampered by niggling injury problems, and the drive he had to go Down Under to show the best of himself.