Osborne added to Lions squad while Beirne captains the the team in last game before first test match

Jamie Osborne has been added to the British & Irish Lions squad ahead of the first test match against Australia on 19 July.

The Naas man made his international debut for Ireland 12 months ago in South Africa and squad this summer and won his eighth cap against Georgia last week. 

He has been with the Irish team this week in Portugal as the team prepared for a game there this weekend but he will now leave the Irish camp and arrive in Australia on Saturday as he joins the 'squad to provide additional training cover'.

Meanwhile, Tadhg Beirne will captain the Lions in their last game before the first test when they take on a strong AusNZ Invitational side in Adelaide on Saturday. It's the second time that Beirne has captained the team on the tour and he will be partnered in the second row by James Ryan. Mack Hansen and Hugh Keenan also start in the 14 and 15 numbered jerseys respectively. Among the replacements, it's an all-Irish reserve front row with Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter and Findlay Bealham on the bench, with Josh Van Der Flier also named on the bench.