Irish tighthead prop Andrew Porter has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa this summer with a toe injury.
The 25-year-old Dubliner picked up the injury in Leinster Rugby's defeat to Glasgow Warriors on Friday night in the Pro 14 Rainbow Cup and will be replaced in Warren Gatland’s squad by England’s Kyle Sinckler.
Sinckler, a Lions tourist in New Zealand in 2017, will join up with the squad following the conclusion of Bristol Bears’ domestic season.
The West-Country outfit have already qualified for the Premiership play-offs.
"It's really bad luck for Andrew and we send him our very best wishes for a quick and successful rehab," said Gatland.
"Andrew is a young man with a big future ahead of him and I’m sure he’ll be in contention again in four years’ time.
"As always in rugby, when there’s an injury there’s an opportunity for someone else. I have been very pleased to see the way Kyle has responded to initially being left out of the touring party.
"He’s showed some excellent form of late and I hope he continues to stick two fingers up to me about leaving him out in the first place."
The Lions assemble in Jersey on 13 June to begin preparations for The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup match against Japan at BT Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday 26 June, before flying to South Africa for the series against the Springboks.
