Lions issue squad update after Tomos Williams injury

Tomos Williams will play no further part in the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, with examinations revealing the disastrous extent of the Welshman’s hamstring injury.

Williams came up clutching his hamstring after scoring his second try of the game in the Lions’ 47-point pummeling of the Western Force in Perth.

The 30-year-old now faces a return-to-play timeline that extends beyond the Lions tour, the team confirmed on Monday.

In his place, Scotland scrumhalf Ben White is set to join the squad. White has been in New Zealand with his Scotland teammates, preparing to play the Maori All Blacks in Whangarei on Saturday. The call-up puts the 27-year-old Scotsman in line for his first Lions cap.

“Unfortunately, Tomos has been ruled out of the rest of the Tour with a hamstring injury. Ben White will join us from the Scotland squad and will fly over from New Zealand,” Lions head coach Andy Farrell revealed.

Williams started the match in Perth after coming off the bench against Argentina in Dublin.

“This is desperately sad news for Tomos, and we wish him all the very best in his recovery,” Lions Tour Manager Ieuan Evans, MBE, said.

“Tomos is an exemplary Lion who has had a brilliant season, having joined the Tour after being named as Premiership Rugby’s player-of-the-season.

“He lit up this Lions Tour with both his personality and his talent.”

Following the Perth win, midfielder Sione Tuipulotu shared a player’s view of Williams’ place in the team while expressing his hope for the injury to be a short-term one.

“We saw he had an ice-pack on his hamstring,” the Scotland captain said. “All of us are hoping it’s not too serious and that he can still be available for us.

“He played really well today and is a bit of an energy plug. After the season he’s had and getting to know him over the last few weeks, I just really hope it’s anything too serious and he can come back and contribute.”

The Lions next play the Queensland Reds on Wednesday ahead of their first game against the Wallabies on July 19.