British & Irish Lions confirm replacement for Ben Youngs

No-one would like to make the British & Irish Lions squad under these circumstances.

The Lions coaching staff has moved fast to confirm a replacement for Ben Youngs after the England scrum-half withdrew due to family reasons. Youngs pulled out of the seven-week tour to New Zealand after his sister-in-law, Tiffany Youngs, was diagnosed with terminal cancer after previous beating the disease in 2014. Tiffany Youngs is married to Youngs brother, Leicester and England hooker Tom Youngs. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_UK/status/860940835961044993 Earlier this evening, Youngs released a statement confirming the news any wishing the Lions well on their journey south next month. He said:

"I wish them well and, like all rugby supporters in Britain and Ireland, hope they have a successful tour."

Just before 10pm, the Lions confirmed that Scottish scrum-half Greig Laidlaw would be replacing Youngs. https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/860958629909934081 Laidlaw was unfortunate to miss out on initial squad selection but an injury picked up midway through the Six Nations. A reliable goal-kicker, the Gloucester No.9 adds another option off the kicking tee for the Lions. He is only the third Scot in the Lions squad, joining Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg.