LEINSTER have offset the upcoming departure of Scottish lock Nathan Hines to Clermont Auvergne by signing Natal Sharks second-row Steven Sykes, who wants to represent Ireland.

THE youngest of the British and Irish Lions class of 2009 will be home in Limerick today – much richer for the experience of participating in the tour to South Africa.

British and Irish Lions lock Simon Shaw has been cited for alleged dangerous play during the third Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

SOUTH AFRICA forward Schalk Burger has reacted to his eight-week suspension byinsisting: “I am not a rugby thug.”

BY MAKING five changes to the starting lineup for tomorrow’s second test, the Lionsmanagement have put their hands up andaccepted they got it wrong last weekend. Nowhere is this more striking than in the make-up of the front five who were pummelled in Durban.

BRITISH AND IRISH Lions defence coach Shaun Edwards yesterday hinted that Ireland’s Luke Fitzgerald might have won a starting place in Saturday’s second clash with South Africa in Pretoria, swelling Ireland’s representation on the Test team.

IT’S A LIONS tour, but not as we know it. Something is missing. That manic fervour and commitment that the All Blacks were subjected to last November in Thomond Park has been strangely absent in the first five games of this tour – and it’s also missing off the field.

British and Irish Lions lock Nathan Hines is out of contention for Saturday’s second Test against South Africa.

British and Irish Lions lock Nathan Hines faces a disciplinary hearing tomorrow after being cited for alleged foul play.

THE British and Irish Lions were denied a 100% non-Test record in dramatic fashion in wet and windy Newlands last night – hit with an injury time seven-pointer after an indifferent, error-ridden, display.

LIONS coach Ian McGeechan is confident there will be no damage to morale after having victory snatched away in the dying seconds of last night’s confrontation with the Emerging Springboks.

Emerging Springboks 13 British and Irish Lions 13

Ronan O’Gara wants his team to “make a statement” when he captains the British and Irish Lions at Newlands tonight.

JOHN HAYES had his hands full when he received a call up to this Lions Tour.

THE Emerging Springboks bid to heap more misery on the shell-shocked British and Irish Lions at Newlands tonight (6.10pm).

RONAN O’GARA yesterday warned the Emerging Springboks that the wounded British and Irish Lions remain a dangerous animal.

Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara will captain the British and Irish Lions in tomorrow night’s clash against the Emerging Springboks at Newlands.

THE Lions are hopeful that James Hook will be passed fit ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Emerging Springboks in Cape Town.

The British & Irish Lions have called England loose-head prop Tim Payne into the Lions' squad for the remainder of the tour as Andrew Sheridan is responding slowly to treatment on his sore back.

IRELAND’s yo-yo Lions tour took another twist last night when Munster prop John Hayes climaxed a season to remember with a call-up to the squad in South Africa.

ASSISTANT coach Dick Muir believes South Africa are well prepared for the first Test against the Lions despite the absence of Schalk Burger for the opening match in Durban on Saturday.

WITH THE crucial opening test against South Africa in Durban looming large on the horizon, the Lions management are ready to move into phase two of this tour.

The International Rugby Board has announced the appointment of match officials for the Lions Tour to South Africa.

Ian McGeechan will lead the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, it was confirmed this morning.

The identity of the coach for next year’s British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa will be revealed on May 14.

DETAILS of the British and Irish Lions’ 10-match South Africa tour next year have been confirmed. The Lions will face three Tests against the Springboks, with Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg announced as respective venues — but a potential fixture clash is already looming.

Details of the British and Irish Lions’ 10-match South Africa tour next year have been confirmed.

South Africa have appointed their first black rugby union coach in naming Peter de Villiers as the man to succeed World Cup winner Jake White.