British and Irish Lions: Andy Farrell reveals fitness concerns over Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan
The British and Irish Lions squad arrived in Perth ahead of of Saturday's opening fixture on Australian soil against the Western Force, live on Sky Sports; Jamison Gibson-Park has a glute issue while fellow Ireland player Hugo Keenan is recovering from a calf problem
Monday 23 June 2025 11:16, UK
The British and Irish Lions touched down in Australia, with head coach Andy Farrell revealing lingering injury concerns over Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan.
Farrell's squad arrived into Perth after a 20-hour journey from Dublin via Doha ahead of Saturday's opening fixture on Australian soil against the Western Force.
There is doubt over whether Ireland duo Gibson-Park and Keenan will be able to take part at Optus Stadium because of respective glute and calf problems, but Scotland centre Huw Jones has recovered from an Achilles issue and is available.
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"We'll see how they pull up in midweek," Farrell said of Gibson-Park and Keenan.
"Huw Jones is good, he's been training. He trained fully with us last week so he's up and running."
Farrell confirmed that the team against Western Force will mostly be made up of players from Leinster, Bath and Leicester, who joined up with the Lions after last Saturday's United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership finals.
There were no fresh injuries arising from Friday's 28-24 defeat by Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, with Farrell keen not to dwell on the disappointing tour send-off.
"We're here to build for what's going to be a fantastic Test series. We want to play some good rugby along the way," he said.
"We'll find out more about each other as we keep on going. Of course we'll analyse what went on against Argentina and why, but that's all part of the journey - to understand where we need to go next.
"It's great to be here, this is what it's all about. We're here for a good time. Hopefully we can start this part of the tour off really well on Saturday."
'Respect so hard to earn but so easy to lose'
Tom Curry urged his Lions team-mates to earn respect as they target an immediate response to the Argentina defeat.
"The thing with this sport and this tour is that it comes and goes so quickly. You've got to make the most of it," the England flanker said.
"Every meeting and every session. Before you know it we'll be playing in Australia so we can't let moments pass us by.
"We speak a lot about respect with our own team-mates. We've only got six weeks together. Respect is so hard to earn but so easy to lose.
"It's really important that every session and meeting we turn up and push in the right direction.
"We have got to pull tighter, it's the only way. I feel like this group has taken so many steps off the field. I haven't got a bad word to say about anyone."
What's next for the Lions?
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.
