British and Irish Lions star Luke Cowan-Dickie carried off in neck brace as match suspended for several minutes

BRITISH and Irish Lions star Luke Cowan-Dickie was stretchered off in a neck brace in the first half of the Lions’ clash with the AUNZ Invitational side.

Cowan-Dickie needed medical assistance and the game was briefly suspended after a low tackle saw him take a knee to the head.

Luke Cowan-Dickie of British & Irish Lions was stretched off with a neck brace on following a nasty collision

The Lions held a firm 17-0 lead when the 32-year-old took the blow to the head, seeing him fall to the ground and fail to get back to his feet.

The Sale hooker was left on the turf and needed medical assistance before being transferred to a stretcher, placed in a neck brace and driven off the pitch on a cart.

Current HIA protocols now mean that head coach Andy Farrell may not be able to select Cowan-Dickie for next week’s opening test against Australia.

Ronan Kelleher was the man who replaced Cowan-Dickie before the half-time break.

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