Rugby: Lions players checked for foot-and-mouth

The Lions and their fans are being sniffed by dogs and X-rayed as they arrive in Australia as a precaution against foot-and-mouth.

Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said the Lions and their thousands of fans were welcome but the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service is ready to inspect them as they arrive in Australia.

Mr Truss said that because players, their equipment and most of the rugby union fans will be coming from the UK, particular attention will be paid to visitors' feet.

He said: "We will not be taking any chances that they could unwittingly carry an unwelcome hitchhiker, such as foot-and-mouth disease.

"Inspectors, detector dog teams and X-ray units will all be used to give the visitors the close attention paid to all passengers arriving from the UK."

Truss said an Australian quarantine inspector in Britain had pre-cleared Lions equipment, including 30 pairs of boots, for shipment.