Gatland on Porter: “Andrew is a young man with a big future ahead of him and I’m sure he’ll be in contention again in four years time”; Every match from the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa will be exclusively live on Sky Sports
Last Updated: 06/06/21 12:01pm
Kyle Sinckler has been in excellent form for Bristol Bears
Kyle Sinckler will replace injured tighthead prop Andrew Porter in Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer.
Ireland international Porter suffered a toe injury in Leinster’s defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup on Friday night, which has forced him to pull out of the touring party.
Sinckler, who toured New Zealand with the Lions in 2017, will join up with the squad once Bristol Bears’ domestic season has concluded, with Pat Lam’s side having already qualified for the Premiership play-offs.
Andrew Porter is out of the Lions touring party after suffering a toe injury playing for Leinster
The Lions gather in Jersey on June 13 to begin preparations for the game against Japan at Murrayfield on June 26, before flying to South Africa for the series against the Springboks.
“It’s really bad luck for Andrew and we send him our very best wishes for a quick and successful rehab,” said Gatland.
Sinckler toured New Zealand with the Lions in 2017
“Andrew is a young man with a big future ahead of him and I’m sure he’ll be in contention again in four years time.
“As always in rugby, when there’s an injury there’s an opportunity for someone else. I have been very pleased to see the way Kyle has responded to initially being left out of the touring party.
“He’s showed some excellent form of late and I hope he continues to stick two fingers up to me about leaving him out in the first place.”
England international Sinckler missed out on selection when Warren Gatland announced his Lions squad
2021 British and Irish Lions confirmed fixture schedule in South Africa:
• Saturday 3 July, 5pm: Emirates Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
• Wednesday 7 July, 7pm: Cell C Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
• Saturday 10 July, 5pm: Vodacom Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
• Wednesday 14 July, 7pm: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)
• Saturday 17 July, 5pm: DHL Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)
Test Series fixtures
• Saturday 24 July, 5pm: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town)
• Saturday 31 July, 5pm: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
• Saturday 7 Aug, 5pm: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
Watch every match from the British & Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa exclusively live on Sky Sports this summer.
