Owen Farrell, the former England fly-half, has been sensationally called-up to the Lions tour, the team have confirmed.

Full-back Elliot Daly suffered a fractured forearm in the 52-12 victory against the Queensland Reds. Saracens team-mate, Farrell, will be his replacement, with him coming into camp from Friday.

While far from a direct swap for Daly, who has been deployed at full-back so far on this tour but can also cover wing and centre, Farrell will more than make up the experience void.

Daly was one of only three players in the original squad, alongside prop Tadhg Furlong and captain Maro Itoje, to have toured three times. Farrell, who was also used at inside centre by Racing 92 last season, will now be embarking on his fourth Lions tour having played in 2-1 series victory against the Wallabies in 2013.

Head coach Andy Farrell said of the decision: “It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours.

Alex Corbisiero, Owen Farrell and current Wallabies assistant coach Geoff Parling with the Tom Richards Cup in 2013.

“Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”

Farrell later told reporters in Sydney: “He’s the right man at this moment in time for us, he looks after himself and prides himself on keeping himself in good nick anyway.

“There are plenty of players who have not played for quite some time. And the experience of knowing what you can do helps in that regard.”

Speaking to Telegraph Sport last month, Farrell had certainly not shut the door on whether he would receive a Lions call-up despite stepping back from England duty.

“I can’t say,” Farrell said. “It is all very hypothetical, isn’t it? A lot would need to happen, and I need to make sure I am ready to go if that does come around. That is the only point that matters.”

The Lions have just three warm-up games heading into the three-Test series against the Wallabies that starts on July 19 and it is extremely unlikely that Farrell would arrive in time to be ready for Saturday’s match against New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.

England’s Owen Farrell playing against the Wallabies in 2022.

Certainly no one can doubt his credentials as England’s record points scorer and a six-time Premiership champion. In terms of aura, few can match the presence of Farrell who captained England from 2018 through to 2023. On the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa, Farrell topped a players’ vote for who should be in the leadership group despite coming into that series out of form.

It will nevertheless be seen as a controversial call-up given that Farrell stepped back from international rugby following the 2023 World Cup, at which he was booed by England’s supporters. He subsequently endured a wretched, injury-hit season at Racing 92 and the 33-year-old has returned to Saracens after only a year in Paris.

Elliot Daly of the British & Irish Lions makes a break against the Reds

Following the eight-try win over the Reds, head coach Farrell seemed unconcerned by the Lions options at full back in light of Daly’s potential absence while specialists Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan have yet to play a minute on this tour. “No, we’ve got loads of full-backs,” Farrell said. “Hugo will be OK tomorrow or the next day and Blair’s ready to go.”

That suggested that he may call-up a utility back such as Scotland’s Tom Jordan or Ireland’s Jamie Osborne; instead he has gone for the ultimate Test match animal.

However short of form and fitness Farrell junior might be with the Test series now fast approaching, Andy Farrell has gone with the player he trusts the most: his son.

Telegraph, London

KOROIBETE JOINS ANZAC SQUAD AS KISS LAUDS KIWI POWER

Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss says the power of experienced All Black stars in the Australia and New Zealand Invitational side will help combat the Lions, as Marika Koroibete was confirmed as a starter for next week’s tour game.

After months of speculation and player withdrawals – including Richie Mo’unga and Michael Hooper – the AUNZ side is slowly taking shape ahead of the clash with the Lions at the Adelaide Oval on July 12.

Kiss is the AUNZ head coach, with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster an assistant. And Foster’s work on the New Zealand front has seen six players with a total of 81 All Blacks caps named so far.

All Blacks centre and Crusaders captain David Havili is a prize capture, while 33-cap back-rower Shannon Frizzell, Shaun Stevenson, Ngani Laumape, Folau Fakatava and Joshua Fusitu’a will also suit up.

After initially looking to recruit Japan-based stars, Rugby Australia have opted to use the fixture to give more game time to Australian players from the Wallabies squad and Super Rugby sides.

RA revealed the first three Australian players on Thursday, with Koroibete, Pete Samu and Brandon Paenga-Amosa all named as participants.

David Havili of the Crusaders leads the team out for the Super Rugby final.

Koroibete, the two-time John Eales medallist who is still playing in Japan, missed selection in the 36-man Wallabies squad last month but will be able to mount a case for a possible mid-series call-up with a strong performance.

Adelaide Oval was the scene of one of Koroibete’s most famous moments as a Wallaby, when he helped secure victory against the world champion Springboks in 2022 with a try and a freakish cover tackle on Makazole Mapimpi.

Samu is returning to the Waratahs next season after a stellar year with French club Bordeaux, who won the European Cup in May but went down to Toulouse in the Top 14 grand final at the weekend.

Paenga-Amosa was a regular with the Wallabies last year but missed the initial 36-man squad last week, and will be aiming to crack his way back in.

Marika Koroibete produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to deny Makazole Mapimpi.

Speaking after the Reds’ defeat in Brisbane on Wednesday, Kiss said the injection of some Kiwi power would be helpful against the Lions in Adelaide.

“The All Blacks will bring probably that extra bit of power you need – that power and speed,” Kiss said.

“It’ll be a short week’s prep, but they all know how to play footy. We don’t want to make it too complicated. We just let them play on a base plan that we have, and then let them play footy.”

Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami said he was keen to play for the AUNZ side if given the opportunity. He said Havili was desperately unlucky to not get picked for the All Blacks after an outstanding year for the Crusaders.

“David Havili is quality player - I thought he was unlucky to not make the All Black squad, because I think he was the best 12 in the world,” Paisami said.