The British and Irish Lions have called up versatile Ireland back Jamie Osborne as injury cover for Blair Kinghorn.

The Scotland fullback, who suffered a knee in Wednesday’s 36-24 win against the Brumbies, was widely seen as the man to wear the Lions No 15 jersey in the first Test against Australia if fit.

READ: Farrell on the bench for Lions return

According to the Lions, he received “positive news” following a scan on his knee, but Osborne will join the squad as extra cover. Primarily a centre, Osborne has won eight caps for Ireland and featured in Leinster’s run to the 2024-25 URC title.

“The Lions medical team will manage his (Kinghorn’s) return to training over the coming days,” the tourists added in a statement late Thursday.

The first Test against Australia is in Brisbane on 19 July with Ireland’s Hugo Keenan in pole position to start at 15 if Kinghorn does not recover in time.

Osborne is currently with the Ireland squad in Portugal and is expected to arrive in Australia on Saturday.

The Lions, who play the fifth game of their tour on Saturday in Adelaide against a combined Australia-New Zealand XV, have already lost utility back Elliot Daly and scrumhalf Tomos Williams to injuries.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images