Just when Jamie George thought he was settling into the rhythm of England’s summer tour, everything changed.
The seasoned hooker is now packing his bags for a whirlwind trip to Brisbane, Australia.
Why the sudden detour? He’s answering an urgent call to join the British & Irish Lions squad after a head injury ruled out fellow England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Cowan-Dickie Knocked Out Cold in Adelaide
The moment that changed everything came during the Lions’ dominant 48-0 victory over an Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV at Adelaide Oval.
In the first half, Luke Cowan-Dickie went in for a tackle on towering lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto—and the collision left him motionless on the turf.
Medical staff rushed in, stabilized his neck, and stretchered him off after several tense minutes.
Though he was later seen walking around and acknowledging fans, it became clear he had suffered a concussion.
That instantly put his availability for next Saturday’s first Test against the Wallabies in serious doubt.
Under current return-to-play guidelines, it’s highly unlikely he’ll feature.
George Called Into Action for Lions Duty
Enter Jamie George. The 34-year-old Saracens star was gearing up for England’s second Test against Argentina in San Juan when he got the call from Lions head coach Andy Farrell.
Now, he’s preparing for a long-haul trip that’ll take him from the Andes to Australia—with flight legs via Buenos Aires and Dubai—just to make it in time to join the squad next week in Brisbane.
Once he arrives, George will slot in as a backup to Dan Sheehan, who is expected to start at hooker.
Ronan Kelleher will also be part of the rotation, but George’s wealth of experience gives Farrell a crucial safety net.
Ringrose Sidelined After Delayed Concussion Symptoms
It wasn’t just Cowan-Dickie’s injury that shook up Farrell’s plans.
Ireland centre Garry Ringrose, who had been on course for a starting spot after an impressive performance against the Brumbies midweek, was ruled out as well.
He initially showed no signs of injury—but then the symptoms hit.
According to Farrell, Ringrose started experiencing headaches the day after the match, which persisted.
After going through the standard concussion checks, he didn’t pass.
That means he’s out for at least 12 days and will miss the first Test, although there’s still hope he could return for the midweek clash that falls between the two Tests.
Scotland’s Huw Jones Gets His Big Chance
With Ringrose out, the door swings wide open for Huw Jones.
The Scottish centre is now the frontrunner to wear the No. 13 jersey in the opening Test against Australia. But the Lions’ midfield puzzle is still very much unsolved.
Farrell won’t reveal his starting line-up until Thursday, and there’s bound to be plenty of speculation until then.
A Race Against Time and A Test of Depth
These last-minute changes have thrown a curveball into the Lions’ preparations, but they’ve also highlighted the depth of talent in the squad—and the need for players like George to step up when it counts.
With travel miles, concussion protocols, and selection headaches dominating the build-up, the Lions will be hoping that the disruption ends here and the focus can shift to taking on the Wallabies next weekend.
