Shanklin joins O'Leary on sidelines

Tom Shanklin last night became the second player to have his British and Irish Lions dream shattered by injury.

The Cardiff Blues centre suffered a dislocated shoulder against the Newport Gwent Dragons on Wednesday and requires surgery that will keep him out of action for 16 weeks.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has already lost scrum-half Tomas O’Leary while Munster flanker Alan Quinlan faces a disciplinary hearing after being cited for eye-gouging.

A guilty verdict on May 13 could also rule him out of the Lions’ assault on world champions South Africa.

Shanklin was forced home early from the 2005 Lions tour in order to undergo a knee reconstruction.

Cardiff chief executive Robert Norster described the timing of this latest injury – after an outstanding season for both Wales and the Blues – as unfair.

“I’m sure I can speak on behalf our the entire Blues family, indeed the entirety of Wales, when I offer our sympathies to Tom following his devastating shoulder injury that will prevent him travelling with the Lions to South Africa this summer,” said Norster.

“Tom and all our other Lions heading south have given their very best for the Blues and their country this year and such injuries hardly seem fitting or fair.

“We are all feeling for him at this difficult time of disappointment and frustration.”

The Lions head for South Africa in just 17 days’ time and McGeechan will be on tenterhooks for the next fortnight with the Guinness Premiership semi-finals and the Heineken Cup final still to come.

McGeechan is yet to announce O’Leary’s scrum-half replacement and the Lions management will now have to consider their centre options.

Ireland’s Gordon D’Arcy is predominantly an inside centre but he was in prime form in Leinster’s Heineken Cup win over Munster.

Gavin Henson is also a 12 but although he is a favourite of both Shaun Edwards and Warren Gatland, his lack of action this season counts strongly against him.