Flannery adds to Lions woes
Elbow injury rules hooker Jerry Flannery out of Lions tour
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Thursday, 21, May 2009 10:13
Hooker Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after tearing his elbow ligaments in training yesterday.
The Munster and Ireland front-row forward suffered the injury during a routine session at the club's Surrey training ground on Wednesday afternoon.
Initial diagnosis suggested Flannery, who was one of Ireland's best players as they won the Six Nations grand slam in the spring, had damaged a bone in the joint.
However, after being sent for scans it was revealed he had torn ligaments in his left elbow. He will be assessed by an orthopaedic specialist today and will start his rehabilitation as soon as possible.
Flannery's withdrawal is a further blow to Lions head coach Ian McGeechan, whose plans have already been disrupted by a spate of problems.
Scrum-half Tomas O'Leary and centre Tom Shanklin have been ruled out of the entire tour through injury, while one of the management's first-choice flankers, Alan Quinlan, picked up a 12-week ban for eye gouging last week to prevent him touring.
Young Welsh wing Leigh Halfpenny has also been told to remain in Cardiff for treatment on a thigh injury that will keep him out of the first game, although he will join up with the squad within the next two weeks.
Scotland's Mike Blair and England's Tom Croft have already been called in as replacements, while two other substitutes are due to be named this week.
England back Delon Armitage or Scotland's Chris Paterson could be named as cover for Halfpenny, while Paterson's international team-mate Ross Ford is favourite to come in as hooker.