Graham, Sutherland and Ashman called up as cover for the Lions

The Scottish trio of Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman have been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad as cover.

The wing, loose-head prop and hooker were with Gregor Townsend's Scotland squad in New Zealand while preparing to play Samoa in Auckland on Friday.

They have been drafted in to complete the Lions squad to face the Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday, 22 July.

Leinster and Ireland prop Thomas Clarkson was called up on Sunday for the same reason. The Geography Four, as they're sure to be termed, will mean that Test players can be completely rested against the Pasifika side.

The match takes place three days after the first Test against Australia in Brisbane and four days before before the second Test in Melbourne on 26 July.

Head coach Andy Farrell's move to draft in extra players is a repeat of Warren Gatland's controversial 'Geography Six' move in New Zealand in 2017 when half a dozen players, including Finn Russell, were parachuted in to play provincial opposition, thereby giving the Test men a rest.

"The boss has called them in because he believes they will help the Lions to achieve their goal of winning a Test series," said Lions captain Maro Itoje.

"All of the players that have been called in are quality players. They are players like everyone else in the team, have a high level of experience and have achieved things in their career.

"We are all in this together. It's not us and them. It doesn't matter if there's a late call-up. We've seen in the past how late call-ups have had huge impact on the tour in positive ways.

"I have no doubt that everyone who has been called up will play a significant role in helping the team achieve its goal."

The introduction of Darcy Graham (left), Rory Sutherland (centre) and Ewan Ashman (right) will take Andy Farrell's squad to 44 players

Graham, who was given two yellows and sent off against Fiji in Suva on Saturday, will not have to endure a suspension and will join the Lions party in Brisbane later on Monday while Sutherland and Ashman will arrive in Melbourne at the weekend.

When they are all in situ, Farrell's squad will rise to 44 players, with 11 Scots now in the group.

Graham has been in terrific form and was deemed unlucky to miss out on the original selection. Sutherland is already a Lions player, having played in two Tests, and in six games overall, in South Africa four years ago.

Ashman made his Scotland debut against the Wallabies in November 2021. Scotland won 15-13 and the hooker scored the decisive try.

Allan Dell, Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies and Cory Hill were part of Warren Gatland's 'Geography Six' on the 2017 Lions tour