Tomos Williams a ‘shocking’ injury loss as Lions turn to Ben White

Andy Farrell admits Tomos Williams will be a major loss for the British and Irish Lions after he was forced out of the Australia tour with a significant hamstring injury.

Williams, one of only two Wales players picked by the Lions, will return home on Monday after Farrell revealed the damage incurred while scoring the second of his two excellent tries against Western Force on Saturday will sideline him for the “medium to long term”.

Ben White has been called up from the Scotland squad that is currently in New Zealand to fill the vacancy and will arrive into camp on Monday, when he will be joined by Blair Kinghorn, who is now available after helping Toulouse win the Top 14 final.

For Williams, it is a case of what might have been, as the reigning Gallagher Premiership player of the year had been outstanding in his two appearances on tour, placing him firmly in contention for a Test place against the Wallabies.

“It’s shocking news for us all. We’re not just going to miss an outstanding player – he played unbelievably well and it was some try that he was actually injured by,” Farrell said.

“We’re also going to miss the bloke. We have only been together for a few weeks now but his character is everything you want to have in your group on a Lions tour. He’s very popular and that makes it a little bit tougher.

“Ben will be devastated for Tomos, like we all are. But at the same time, he’s super excited.

“He obviously had ambition to get into the squad – as did many others who didn’t get selected – so now he gets his chance.”

Williams’ withdrawal is partially offset by Jamison Gibson-Park’s recovery from the glute issue that enables him to make his Lions debut against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Gibson-Park