Tom Shanklin anticipates a nervous month in the build-up towards this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour.

Munster scrum half Tomas O’Leary has been ruled out of the Lions tour to South Africa after breaking his ankle in the Magners League match against Scarlets last night.

WITH Irish rugby’s days at Croke Park on borrowed time, how appropriate that at least one episode of domestic tribal warfare should get an airing at the country’s leading venue.

The kick-off times for the ten matches of next year's tour of South Africa by the British & Irish Lions have been confirmed.

BRITISH and Irish Lions chiefs are confident a potentially embarrassing clash of fixtures that could affect the start of the 2009 tour to South Africa will be resolved.

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.

NEXT YEAR’s British and Irish Lions coach could be unveiled in four weeks, with a strong possibility that the candidate could be drawn from outside the current coaches of the four home unions.