Scotland’s Brown to join Lions squad in Melbourne

Before their final midweek encounter with the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday, Scotland’s back row Gregor Brown will join the British and Irish Lions squad.

The 24-year-old Glasgow Warrior started for his team’s win over Samoa in Auckland on Friday, and he can play lock.

Brown joins the 2025 Lions’ 45th player, whose 38-man initial squad included 45 players.

Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman will team up with the squad in Melbourne on Sunday, along with Brown, who made his Scotland debut against Canada in 2024.

Sutherland, Ashman, and Darcy Graham were all called up as cover on Monday, but only Graham made it before the first-test victory over Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

Tom Clarkson, England hooker Jamie George, and utility back Jamie Osborne have all recently signed as cover for Ireland.

Joe McCarthy, an Ireland lock, reportedly had plantar fasciitis, a condition that causes pain in the heel and arch of the foot, when the Lions’ head coach Andy Farrell confirmed McCarthy’s withdrawal was due to the incident.

He continued, “We had to get him off just in time because it was niggling at him.”