Injured Owens gets nod for Lions

WALES hooker Ken Owens will not be fit to lead the Scarlets into the Guinness PRO12 final in Dublin this weekend but he will be able to tour with the British & Irish Lions this summer.

That was the verdict of triumphant Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac after his side’s 27-15 semi-final win against Leinster — becoming the first team to win a PRO12 semi-final away from home.

Owens, 30, suffered ankle ligament damage in training last week, which left him doubtful for the Lions’ 10-match trip to New Zealand. But Pivac says his skipper will be available.

‘Ken is improving every day and is very upbeat. By all accounts he is progressing well. We’ll see him on Monday but speaking to him on Thursday, he is improving,’ said Pivac.

‘We’d like him to improve for next week but I’m not sure he’ll be there in time. Certainly the Lions tour is a goer for Ken.’

Owens will continue to be assessed by the Lions medical staff before Warren Gatland’s squad fly to New Zealand a week tomorrow.

The Lions begin a training camp outside Dublin tomorrow without Owens.

Head coach Gatland would be reluctant to tour with just two fit hookers in his squad — Jamie George and Rory Best are his other options — but Pivac’s confidence in Owens will ease his fears.

Should Gatland need cover, England skipper Dylan Hartley would be next in line.