![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/sinckler-1.png\")
England prop Kyle Sinckler has been called into the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer\u2019s tour of South Africa in place of the injured Andrew Porter.<\/p>\nEngland prop Kyle Sinckler has been called into the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer\u2019s tour of South Africa in place of the injured Andrew Porter.<\/p>\n
Ireland tighthead Porter has been ruled out of the series due to a toe problem sustained in Leinster\u2019s PRO14 Rainbow Cup defeat to Glasgow on Friday.<\/p>\n
Sinckler, a Lions tourist in New Zealand in 2017, will join up with Warren Gatland\u2019s squad following the conclusion of Bristol\u2019s domestic season, with his club having already qualified for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.<\/p>\n
Lions coach Gatland said in a statement: \u201cIt\u2019s really bad luck for Andrew and we send him our very best wishes for a quick and successful rehab.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew is a young man with a big future ahead of him and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be in contention again in four years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs always in rugby, when there\u2019s an injury there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lions are scheduled to assemble in Jersey on Sunday, June 13th to begin preparations for a match against Japan on June 26th at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n
Gatland\u2019s men will then fly to South Africa where, following a series of warm-up matches, they are due to play Tests against the Springboks on July 24th in Cape Town and July 31st and August 7th in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
Sinckler came on as a replacement in each of the Lions\u2019 three Tests during the drawn series against the All Blacks four years ago.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old\u2019s initial omission came following England\u2019s underwhelming display in this year\u2019s Guinness Six Nations when Eddie Jones\u2019 deposed champions finished second bottom.<\/p>\n
Porter, who has 37 caps for Ireland, was preparing for his first Lions involvement.<\/p>\n
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen joined Gatland in backing the 25-year-old to make amends for current frustration in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all bitterly disappointed for Ports. He has worked incredibly hard to get this opportunity and it was richly deserved,\u201d Cullen told Leinster\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is fortunate that he has youth on his side and will hopefully have another shot at a Lions tour again but that doesn\u2019t take away from his disappointment now.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike everyone we wish him well with his recovery and look forward to seeing him back for Leinster next season.\u201d<\/p>\n