Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour with a hamstring problem, with Scotland’s Ben White called up to replace him.
Gloucester half-back Williams limped off after suffering the injury in the act of scoring as the Lions thrashed Western Force 54-7 on Saturday.
White was already in New Zealand ahead of Scotland’s summer tests against Fiji and Samoa.
Williams’ tour ending means the Lions only have one Welshman in the squad in back row Jac Morgan.
‘Outstanding’ Tomos Williams’ Lions Tour Over
Speaking after news broke of Williams’ departure, Lions tour manager Ieuan Evans couldn’t speak more highly of the scrum-half.
Evans said: ‘This is desperately sad news for Tomos.
”He is an exemplary Lion who had a brilliant season, having joined the Tour as Premiership player of the season.
“He lit up this Lions tour with both his personality and his talent.”
Wishing Tomos a speedy recovery! ❤️🦁#Lions2025
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 30, 2025
In better news for the Lions, Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park will make his first appearance of the tour against the Reds on Wednesday.
The New Zealand-born nine has shaken off a glute issue to start in midweek.
Lions boss Andy Farrell confirmed the injury to Williams was “worse than expected.”
Farrell said: ”He’s an outstanding player – he’s played unbelievably well.
”But we won’t just miss the player, we’ll miss the bloke.
“He’s everything you want to have on a tour which makes it tougher for us all.”
British And Irish Lions Vs Queensland Reds
The Lions have made 14 changes from the side which beat Western Force at the weekend.
Tour captain Maro Itoje returns alongside England teammate Ollie Chessum in the second row.
Irish duo Andrew Porter and Ronan Kelleher are joined in the front row by Bath and England’s Will Stuart.
Welsh captain Jac Morgan starts on the flank alongside Tom Curry of England and Jack Conan of Ireland.
Gibson-Park gets his first action of the tour.
Scotland captain Finn Russell is the only survivor from Saturday’s starting 15.
Next up: @Reds_Rugby 🐨🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/DvLaKBIjY1
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 29, 2025
In the centres, Bundee Aki and Huw Jones form a fearsome-looking partnership.
England’s Tommy Freeman and Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe start on the wings, as they did for the defeat to Argentina in Dublin.
And Irishman Hugo Keenan also makes his first appearance at fullback.
The heavily English bench also features three Irish players in Bealham, Ryan and Ringrose.
British and Irish Lions: Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Aki, Van der Merwe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Curry, Morgan, Conan
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Bealham, Ryan, Earl, Mitchell, F Smith, Ringrose
British And Irish Lions Fixtures
- Friday, 20 June – Lions 24-28 Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium)
- Saturday, 28 June – Lions 54-7 Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium)
- Wednesday, 2 July – Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)
- Saturday, 5 July – Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium)
- Wednesday, 9 July – Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium)
- Saturday, 12 July – Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
- Saturday, 19 July – Lions v Australia, First Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)
- Tuesday, 22 July – Lions v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
- Saturday, 26 July – Lions v Australia, Second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG)
- Saturday, 2 August – Lions v Australia, Third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium)
