Injury brings early end to Jones’ tour

WALES captain Ryan Jones has been declared unfit for Lions duty and will fly home within days of arriving in South Africa as a tour replacement.

The 28-year-old’s plight was caused by the head injury suffered in the first minute of Wales’ 48-15 win over United States in Chicago on Saturday.

Jones joined the Lions on Thursday as Stephen Ferris’ replacement.

But Lions head coach Ian McGeechan says no further replacement will be called up at this stage.

Jones, whose tour was ended following a medical examination, joins Tomás O’Leary, Tom Shanklin, Jerry Flannery, Leigh Halfpenny and Ferris on the injury list.

A statement by the Lions read: “Jones underwent the same routine medical testing as all replacement players joining the tour and it led to the team’s medical staff requesting a further examination by an independent neurosurgeon.

“This was due to a concern over the player’s recent medical history that included two significant knocks to the head while playing for his country on their recent tour to North America.

“On the advice of the neurosurgeon, it was determined that it was not safe for Jones to undertake any physical contact for a mandatory three weeks.”

Rob Kearney is on the brink of nailing down a Test place and knows full well today is the day to do it.

But the Leinster and Ireland full-back has to pull off a miracle to persuade McGeechan he is a better option than Welsh whiz kid Lee Byrne.

Kearney has endured a rather traumatic few weeks, albeit a spell eased considerably by his selection for the Lions.

Some experts are suggesting Kearney should be used as a utility player but he doesn’t agree.

He admitted that the totality of the training programme with the Lions had been geared to him playing at 15. “It probably crossed my mind that I could be used on the wing when the squad was announced. Now, I doubt that will happen,” he said.

Kearney accepts that today’s game against Western Province will be a final trial.

“There are all sorts of things to take into account and maybe I will have to produce something special to get into in the test side – a good solid game won’t get me there.”