Lions star lost a stone in 12 days as as 'getting off the toilet was an issue'
Test probable Hugo Keenan has revealed how his entire Lions tour nearly went down the toilet after he was laid up for nearly two weeks with a stomach bug.
The Irish full-back, who arrived in Australia nursing a knee injury, was laid low by a virus that saw him lose close to a stone in weight ahead of his opening appearance down under against the Waratahs in Sydney last weekend.
The 29-year-old had a shocker that night but, with Blair Kinghorn struggling with a knee injury, put his hand up for this weekend's Test opener in Brisbane against the Wallabies in Saturday's 48-0 win over an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide.
But Leinster's Keenan admitted being confined to barracks, after the tourists first landed in Western Australia, for their opener against the Force on 28 June was not the best start to his life with the Lions.
Keenan said: 'It wasn't exactly what you planned on when getting on tour. I was sick for about 12 days, it was rough. Getting off the toilet was an issue, and I lost about five or six kilos. There was a little bit of a virus going around camp but for whatever reason it hit me on a different level.
READ MORE: British and Irish Lions star owns up to bedroom blunder after arriving late to camp
'I was isolating for a good bit, and most lads recovered pretty quick from it, but I've never had something like that. God, it was pretty horrible. It was frustrating. Every day you think you're going to be waking up the next day better. You think it's going to be sort of a 24-hour, 48-hour thing. The tour will hopefully kick on for me here and I can start enjoying it a bit more.
'It was a challenge but that's part of touring life, isn't it? All these little bits, manning up as much as you can. I felt terrible in that Waratahs game. But look, sometimes you just have to front up and do what's needed.'
Keenan is trying to pile on the pounds, to get close to his fighting weight of around 15 stone, with the help of touring nutritionist, Professor Graeme Close, part of a massive back-room staff which dwarfs the playing squad.
Keenan added: 'I'm getting there now, I'm still a few kilos off, still probably not filling out that jersey like I was, but it'll be fine, I'll get there. I'm working with Closey, he's been unbelievable. Making me high-calorie shakes and trying to get as many fluids into me to get the weight back on. Fair play to him.'
Keenan pulled his weight from full-back as head coach Andy Farrell's side showed a bit of cohesion in attack at the Adelaide Oval.
'We knew we had that performance in us,' said Keenan. 'To put a team like that to nil with their quality is a real step forward. Everybody's hungry to play next week, everybody wants to be involved, so it's exactly what Faz is looking for, competition throughout the squad, all positions, and that's a real healthy thing to have.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
25 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Gregor Townsend selects Lions-bound duo for Scotland clash with Samoa
Townsend has selected the pair in his front row for Scotland's final summer tour encounter in Auckland on Friday. Darcy Graham has already linked up with the Lions and Glasgow prop Sutherland and Edinburgh hooker Ashman will join him with a view to playing in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV. Townsend said: 'The fact we're playing Friday night and they can get to Melbourne on Sunday, the same time as the Lions are arriving, as long as they are available to train on Monday and be available for the game on Tuesday, there won't be any real consideration on game time. 'We hope every one of our players come through fit but Ewan and Rory were very keen to play.' Townsend was delighted with the additional Lions recognition, which took the number of Scots selected to 12, including the injured Zander Fagerson. 'Especially for Darcy to go there now and be part of the Lions squad, building up to the first Test and then getting a really good run at potentially being involved in that midweek game,' he added. 'And the other two guys, they were buzzing when I passed on the news to them that they were going to be getting a phone call from the Lions and the players were really pleased for them as well. 'Maybe it's not in the front of their minds because they've been preparing for a Test match this week but I'm sure their focus will turn to the Lions as soon as Friday night is over.' Townsend has made five personnel changes following the 29-14 defeat by Fiji. Your Scotland team to take on Samoa in our final Skyscanner Pacific Tour match has been confirmed 🏴 More ➡️ — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 16, 2025 Gregor Brown returns from injury to start in the second row while Andy Onyeama-Christie is drafted into the back row after Jamie Ritchie dropped out with a foot injury. Rory Hutchinson and Stafford McDowall form a new centre partnership in place of Cameron Redpath and Tom Jordan, who suffered a fractured hand against Fiji. Arron Reed replaces Graham with Kyle Steyn swapping wings. Ben Muncaster is back from injury but has to settle for a place on the bench alongside uncapped Glasgow prop Fin Richardson. 'While there's a lot of changes, some of them were outwith our control,' Townsend said. 'But we've looked to put our strongest team out. We were disappointed with the result at the weekend and we want to finish this tour with a real strong performance and finish on a high from a playing point of view because off the field it's been excellent. 'We feel very privileged to be playing in such an iconic and historic stadium, Eden Park. It will be a great atmosphere, a noisy crowd, you'd mainly imagine supporting Samoa. It's one of the most iconic stadiums in world rugby. 'A great opportunity for us to play a proper Test match in that stadium and finish the tour on a real high.' Townsend earmarked two main areas of improvement. 'The contact area,' he said. 'Just being more ruthless in that area, quicker in support, ball-carrying, working harder on the floor, just not allowing the opposition any opportunities to get the ball back. 'And our discipline. Discipline can be a number of things that the referee can call you up on, but not being offside, just giving them a bit of space, that would be the first one that we can fix.'
Powys County Times
25 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Gregor Townsend selects Lions-bound duo for Scotland clash with Samoa
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend revealed Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman are keen to play a full part against Samoa before heading off on British and Irish Lions duty. Townsend has selected the pair in his front row for Scotland's final summer tour encounter in Auckland on Friday. Darcy Graham has already linked up with the Lions and Glasgow prop Sutherland and Edinburgh hooker Ashman will join him with a view to playing in next Tuesday's match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV. Townsend said: 'The fact we're playing Friday night and they can get to Melbourne on Sunday, the same time as the Lions are arriving, as long as they are available to train on Monday and be available for the game on Tuesday, there won't be any real consideration on game time. 'We hope every one of our players come through fit but Ewan and Rory were very keen to play.' Townsend was delighted with the additional Lions recognition, which took the number of Scots selected to 12, including the injured Zander Fagerson. 'Especially for Darcy to go there now and be part of the Lions squad, building up to the first Test and then getting a really good run at potentially being involved in that midweek game,' he added. 'And the other two guys, they were buzzing when I passed on the news to them that they were going to be getting a phone call from the Lions and the players were really pleased for them as well. 'Maybe it's not in the front of their minds because they've been preparing for a Test match this week but I'm sure their focus will turn to the Lions as soon as Friday night is over.' Townsend has made five personnel changes following the 29-14 defeat by Fiji. Your Scotland team to take on Samoa in our final Skyscanner Pacific Tour match has been confirmed 🏴 More ➡️ — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 16, 2025 Gregor Brown returns from injury to start in the second row while Andy Onyeama-Christie is drafted into the back row after Jamie Ritchie dropped out with a foot injury. Rory Hutchinson and Stafford McDowall form a new centre partnership in place of Cameron Redpath and Tom Jordan, who suffered a fractured hand against Fiji. Arron Reed replaces Graham with Kyle Steyn swapping wings. Ben Muncaster is back from injury but has to settle for a place on the bench alongside uncapped Glasgow prop Fin Richardson. 'While there's a lot of changes, some of them were outwith our control,' Townsend said. 'But we've looked to put our strongest team out. We were disappointed with the result at the weekend and we want to finish this tour with a real strong performance and finish on a high from a playing point of view because off the field it's been excellent. 'We feel very privileged to be playing in such an iconic and historic stadium, Eden Park. It will be a great atmosphere, a noisy crowd, you'd mainly imagine supporting Samoa. It's one of the most iconic stadiums in world rugby. 'A great opportunity for us to play a proper Test match in that stadium and finish the tour on a real high.' Townsend earmarked two main areas of improvement. 'The contact area,' he said. 'Just being more ruthless in that area, quicker in support, ball-carrying, working harder on the floor, just not allowing the opposition any opportunities to get the ball back. 'And our discipline. Discipline can be a number of things that the referee can call you up on, but not being offside, just giving them a bit of space, that would be the first one that we can fix.'
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Major railway station reveals new ‘terminal of the future' with Eurostar trains from the UK
Plus, the upcoming new routes with Eurostar from the UK RIGHT ON TRACK Major railway station reveals new 'terminal of the future' with Eurostar trains from the UK AMSTERDAM has unveiled a new and very stylish-looking Eurostar terminal that's open to UK passengers. Found on platform 15 of Amsterdam station, the Eurostar terminal is four times bigger than the old one, and is very stylish with all the modern necessities for anyone passing through. Advertisement 4 The new Eurostar terminal in Amsterdam is open Credit: ZJA Architects and Engineers & Superimpose Architecture/Marc Goodwin - Archmospheres 4 The minimalist design has meant it's been dubbed the "terminal of the future" Credit: ZJA Architects and Engineers & Superimpose Architecture/Marc Goodwin - Archmospheres Called the 'Eurostar project', the new terminal is found in Amsterdam Centraal station and is welcoming travellers from the UK. It was designed by Superimpose Architecture and ZJA Architects & Engineers who have called it the "terminal of the future." Superimpose Architecture said: "This 'terminal of the future' defines a new era for cross-border rail traffic, and brings together various time periods, technologies, aesthetics, and efficiency." Any British travellers heading from the UK to Amsterdam on the Eurostar will exit through the brand-new terminal - and here's what you'll see. Advertisement The station is minimalist and white with curved ceilings, which are said to give a nod to the station's original design. Through the checkpoint is an open-plan waiting area which has wooden seating and "floating" backlit ceilings. There are even images of moving clouds projected onto the ceiling panels, which will create a sense of calm in the terminal. For anyone waiting to return to the UK, there are improved facilities like a Business Premier lounge, a café, and ultra-fast Wi-Fi. Advertisement To get up to the platform are escalators and staircases - and passengers will pass by one of the historic walls of the station. The new terminal is up to four times the size of the previous one and can check in up to 650 passengers, rather than 250. Top 5 Picturesque Train Journeys in Europe 4 The terminal is four times bigger than the original Credit: ZJA Architects and Engineers & Superimpose Architecture/Marc Goodwin - Archmospheres The Eurostar UK terminal at Amsterdam Centraal had been closed for eight months due to renovations from June 2024 to February 2025. Advertisement From the UK, you can travel on the Eurostar three times a day between Amsterdam and London on direct trains from Sunday to Friday, and two on Saturdays. Each train carries a maximum of 600 passengers from the UK Amsterdam - which used to be capped at 400. By September 2025, the terminal will reach its full capacity of up to 650 passengers. There is talk to eventually expand to five daily services between London and Amsterdam by 2026. Advertisement That's not the only new Eurostar news; it was recently announced that the company will launch new direct routes from the UK to Germany and Switzerland. Currently, the operator connects France, Belgium and Amsterdam from London St Pancras International. The trains would depart from London St Pancras to both Frankfurt and Geneva. Here's another train station that could get first direct trains to Europe in nearly a decade. Advertisement And another train operator reveals plans for new routes from London to Paris by 2029.
