Garry Ringrose has withdrawn from the British and Irish Lions team to face Australia after displaying concussion symptoms, head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed. He had been set to start at centre alongside Ireland teammate Bundee Aki, but was ruled out after self-reporting concussion symptoms in training on Thursday.

Ireland’s Garry Ringrose pulled himself out of tomorrow’s (SAT) second Lions Test against the Wallabies in a dramatic selection twist down under. The centre had been told he was starting at the MCG only to suffer concussion-related symptoms again and told boss Andy Farrell he was not fit.

The British and Irish Lions held off the First Nations and Pasifika XV 24-19 in a tough, physical contest on Tuesday in the last of their midweek games on the Australian tour. The Lions can now focus on trying to clinch the three-test series against the Wallabies on Saturday in Melbourne after winning the first match 27-19 last weekend in Brisbane.