Ireland’s Simon Zebo will become the third reinforcement to join the British and Irish Lions as cover for injured winger Tommy Bowe, team officials said on Sunday.
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Zebo will fly from Houston, Texas and arrive in Sydney early Tuesday, meeting up with the squad in Newcastle ahead of the game against Combined NSW/Queensland Country, officials said.
Irish winger Bowe became the third player in two days likely to be ruled out of the Lions tour after he suffered a suspected broken hand in the 22-12 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
Bowe underwent surgery Sunday to stabilise a bone fracture in his hand and his condition will be assessed over the next few days, team officials said.
Scotland’s Ryan Grant (Gethin Jenkins) and England prop Alex Corbisiero (Cian Healy) have already been called in as cover ahead of the Lions three test matches with Australia, which start on June 22.
Jenkins was ruled out after scans indicated a long recovery time for his calf strain, just a day after Irish Healy’s tour was ended by an ankle injury.