Questions will be raised…..
Tom Clarkson, Ireland and Leinster’s tighthead prop, has been called up to the Lions squad to ‘offer additional front row cover’.
The 25-year-old has been with Ireland in recent weeks, starting and impressing against Georgia and Portugal, earning his seventh and eighth caps.
His breakout season, which included his Ireland debut and a Six Nations start against Wales, was finished off with an outstanding performance in Leinster’s URC final victory over the much-vaunted Bulls pack.
However, he is the club’s and country’s third choice, and his name is still unfamiliar to supporters in other nations.
England’s Joe Heyes, who shone against Argentina, will be disappointed not to have been called up, as will his compatriot Kyle Sinkler, who has six Lions Test caps.
Sinkler has not played for his country since the 2023 World Cup, and he has since relocated to Toulon; meanwhile, Owen Farrell, who was called up, has not played for England since the World Cup.
However, it is probably most unexpected that Asher Opoku-Fordjour was not selected, given that he trained with the Lions prior to their first game against Argentina.
The selection has been contrasted to Warren Gatland’s perceived favouritism toward Welsh players on past trips.
Leinster now has the same number of players as England, and Farrell has received a fair amount of criticism.
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