Owen Farrell has earned a surprise call-up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly.

Daly fractured his arm in the Lions' 52-12 win over Queensland Reds on Wednesday, forcing him to pull out of the squad.

As such, former England captain Farrell, who has not played international rugby since taking a break after the 2023 World Cup, will join his fourth tour with the Lions, having been a part of the 2013, 2017 and 2021 editions.

Farrell, head coach Andy Farrell's son, has not played in nearly two months after suffering a concussion while playing for Racing 92 on May 4, before he returned to Saracens.

But Andy Farrell confirmed his fitness and noted how valuable his experience can be to the side.

"He's the right man at this moment in time for us," said Andy Farrell of Owen, who is expected to join the squad on Friday.

"We felt we were a little bit vulnerable in and around 12, and obviously, he can play 10 as well.

"Experience isn't just the playing side, it's how you make the group feel - the little chats that you have around the place to make sure that everything's gelled together - obviously, Owen would bring a lot of that into the group.

"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.

"It is very sad. We've just sent him off to the airport, and he was the guy who announced the line-up for the Waratahs game, so that was a nice touch."

All set for his fourth Lions Tour, Owen Farrell will join the squad in Sydney! #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/uSN79obHk0

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 3, 2025

The Lions are preparing for their third game on Australian soil against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday, and Tadhg Beirne will lead the team as captain.

Andy Farrell has opted to make 14 changes from the win over Queensland in Brisbane, with Huw Jones the only player to retain his place.

Ireland's Hugo Keenan, who had to withdraw from the starting line-up against the Reds, Scotland's Blair Kinghorn and England's Ben Earl will also make their Lions debuts in the game.

Ben White, who was called up in place of Tomos Williams after he suffered a hamstring injury, is also expected to make his debut in Sydney, having been named as a replacement for the game.

Lions team in full: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier, Ben Earl. Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith.