No-one would like to make the British & Irish Lions squad under these circumstances.
The Lions coaching staff has moved fast to confirm a replacement for Ben Youngs after the England scrum-half withdrew due to family reasons.
Youngs pulled out of the seven-week tour to New Zealand after his sister-in-law, Tiffany Youngs, was diagnosed with terminal cancer after previous beating the disease in 2014. Tiffany Youngs is married to Youngs brother, Leicester and England hooker Tom Youngs.
This is just awful. Thoughts go out to him and his familyhttps://t.co/CpXKyOPZy9
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 6, 2017
Earlier this evening, Youngs released a statement confirming the news any wishing the Lions well on their journey south next month. He said:
“I wish them well and, like all rugby supporters in Britain and Ireland, hope they have a successful tour.”
Just before 10pm, the Lions confirmed that Scottish scrum-half Greig Laidlaw would be replacing Youngs.
Greig Laidlaw of @scotlandteam @gloucesterrugby has been called up to The British & Irish Lions Squad. #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/IZtlbT9tZG
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 6, 2017
Laidlaw was unfortunate to miss out on initial squad selection but an injury picked up midway through the Six Nations.
A reliable goal-kicker, the Gloucester No.9 adds another option off the kicking tee for the Lions. He is only the third Scot in the Lions squad, joining Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg.
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