The former Gloucester and Bristol star passed away at the weekend.
Before he took questions on his first full day of training at the British & Irish Lions camp, in Jersey, Chris Harris paid tribute to the late Jack Adams.
Adams, who played centre in the Premiership for Gloucester and Bristol, passed away at the weekend – aged only 34 – after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, earlier this year.
Devastating news. 😢
Our thoughts are with Jack's family and friends. ❤️ https://t.co/K9siPVZbUa
— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) June 14, 2021
Harris, who has been with Gloucester since 2019, requested a moment to address the [Zoom] assembled media before he took questions on his Lions call-up, training with Warren Gatland’s squad and preparations for the tour to South Africa.
“From everyone here at the Lions and from all at Gloucester Rugby, we just want to pass on our condolences to Jack Adams’ family and friends. It was really sad news.”
Sending our thoughts and best wishes to Jack Adams’ family, friends and everyone @gloucesterrugby.
A tragic loss – RIP Jack.#LionsRugby pic.twitter.com/E43fHum9lg
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 14, 2021
Harris says there has been some fundraising carried out, for Adams’ family, at Gloucester in recent weeks.
“Look, it’s incredibly sad news and I am passing on our deepest sympathies to Jack’s family and loved ones – from the Lions and Gloucester.”
With Adams’ weekend passing and the Euro 2020 health scare for Denmark’s Christian Eriksen, the Lions players have been giving jarring reminders of how precious life can be, even for sports stars at the top of their respective games.
The Lions squad pictured training in Jersey. (Credit: Inpho)“With the Eriksen situation,” he says, “that was hard to watch. I was watching it at the time. But we’ve got to trust that everyone here is trained. We have cardiac screening and you’d hope we would be in the best possible position, if that was to happen.
“Nobody wants it to happen, but we know we’re in a good place, if it does.”
The Lions squad had a morning pitch session, at their pre-tour camp in Jersey, in 27 degrees, sunny weather.
There followed some cryotherapy treatment before a light lunch and an afternoon gym session. There are 26 players currently in camp, including short-term training call-up Leinster and Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher.
