New signing Nic Groom has been included in the Lions’ 27-man squad for their four-match Australasian tour.

The scrumhalf recently returned to South Africa after a two-year stint with the Northampton Saints.

Groom could play an important role for the Lions after Ross Cronjé was ruled out of the tour with a rib injury.

Wing Aphiwe Dyantyi will, unfortunately, miss out as he is yet to recover from his torn pectoral muscle injury.

In some good news for the Lions, captain Warren Whiteley, who suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury against the Blues last month, is back to full fitness.

The Lions will play the Waratahs, Reds, Hurricanes and Highlanders on tour.

Lions tour squad – Jacobus Adriaanse, Cyle Brink, Andries Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Ashlon Davids, Hacjivah Dayimani, Ruan Dreyer, Lourens Erasmus, Andries Ferreira, Nicholas Groom, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, Johannes Jonker, Sylvian Mahuza, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Francois Mostert, Marvin Orie, Marnus Schoeman, Dillon Smit, Dylan Smith, Albertus Smith, Madosh Tambwe, Jacques Van Rooyen, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley.

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