Sale's 20-year-old tight-head prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour has been called up to the British and Irish Lions training squad. This comes as the Lions prepare for their match against Argentina at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 20th. Opoku-Fordjour, who made his England debut in 2024, will join the squad in Portugal next week.

The Lions are facing a shortage of players due to the unavailability of 12 players from the United Rugby Championship (URC) finalists Leinster, as well as those from Premiership finalists Bath and Leicester. This has left Lions boss Andy Farrell in urgent need of additional players to prepare for the Pumas.

Farrell is particularly short of options in the front row. Hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher are still on Leinster duty, leaving Luke Cowan-Dickie as the only available hooker for training. At tight-head, the Lions are stretched thin with Tadhg Furlong dealing with an injury, Will Stuart unavailable, and Zander Fagerson recovering from a calf strain.

Opoku-Fordjour's call-up marks the end of a breakthrough season. He earned his first England cap in the autumn and was shortlisted for the Premiership young player of the season. He recently started for Sale in their 21-16 defeat by Leicester at Welford Road.

Additionally, Ireland prop Finlay Bealham and England hooker Jamie George are expected to join the Lions squad. Official confirmation of these additions is anticipated on Monday.

The Lions will fly to Perth after their match against Argentina, where they will face the Western Force on June 28th.