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Kelleher starts for Ireland this evening. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Ireland's Kelleher in line to join Gatland's Lions squad in South Africa

The 23-year-old hooker is in line to link up with the tourists.

LAST UPDATE | 11 Jul 2021

IRELAND’S RONAN KELLEHER is in line to be called up to Warren Gatland’s Lions squad in South Africa.

The 23-year-old, who scored four tries in Ireland’s win over USA yesterday, was not included in the original touring squad but it’s understood that he is in line to fly out to South Africa ahead of the Test series.

Kelleher spent two weeks training with the Lions at their pre-tour camp in Jersey and is believed to have left Gatland and his coaching staff very impressed.

While it’s not thought that any of the Lions hookers – Jamie George, Ken Owens, and Luke Cowan-Dickie – are currently injured, it appears that Gatland is keen to bring Kelleher on board for the last part of the tour in South Africa.

It’s believed that the Lions head coach feels that having four hookers on the ground in South Africa would be ideal in the event of any injuries or Covid-related disruptions in the position before or during the Tests.

As such, Kelleher is now understood to have been lined up to fly out to South Africa and link up with the Lions at some stage in the next week, although the ever-changing circumstances on the ground in South Africa mean there could be a late change of mind from Gatland.

Explosive Leinster man Kelleher could even have flown out with the Lions party when they first left for South Africa but it’s understood that both Ireland and the Lions felt that he would benefit from starting two Tests for his national team.

Kelleher won win his 12th Ireland cap yesterday against the US having made his Test debut against Scotland in the 2020 Six Nations.

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    Mute Daniel O'Donnell
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    Jun 3rd 2018, 12:52 AM

    Great to see a young talent like that coming through on the international scene, hopefully he goes from strength to strength and bring a few more along with him, they’re few and far between at the minute unfortunately

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    Mute Rob Kennedy
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    Jun 3rd 2018, 7:00 AM

    Top top article

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    Mute EnKy
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    Jun 3rd 2018, 1:52 AM

    Sit back and imagine being Declan Rice’s dad. Your two parents are Irish and you want to rear a kid who acknowledges how brilliant Ireland is. Produce this? Dream world stuff.

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    Mute EnKy
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    Jun 3rd 2018, 1:50 AM

    This boy is a legend. He’s third generation and he’s damn proud. In the days when we see Grealish itching for a. If money move, we ought to sit back and revel in this kid and his incredible potential. I always thought Grealish had the choice between being our hero and being tabloid fodder in England. Declan Rice knows which is better. All hail Rice.

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    Mute running man
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    Jun 3rd 2018, 1:16 PM

    According his boss these games are warm ups for his England call up

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