ANDY FARRELL described how he ‘welled up’ as he called Ireland prop Finlay Bealham into the Lions squad to replace the injured Zander Fagerson.
Scotland tighthead Fagerson is out of the summer tour to Australia with a calf problem.
It meant boss Farrell — on sabbatical from his role as Ireland head coach — summoned the familiar face of 33-year-old Connacht ace Bealham.
Farrell said: “Finlay is very good at what he does.
“He was certainly right up there in the conversation from the very start and he would have been disappointed not to make the group.
“We know he will be a great fit for the group going forward.
“He is the only conversation I was able to have because of the way we did the squad announcement.
“By giving him a phone call and telling him he was selected within the squad, unfortunate for Zander, it was one of the best phone conversations I have ever had.
“The emotion that went through the phone actually welled me up.
“It was great to be able to do that.”
The squad are training in Portugal this week — minus 15 players still on club duty — as they prepare for tomorrow week’s warm-up against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, the first Lions game in Ireland.
