Croft may get Lions call to replace Quinlan

Tom Croft and Delon Armitage could take England’s British and Irish Lions contingent into double figures ahead of departure day for South Africa.

Leicester flanker Croft is the red-hot favourite to replace Munster forward Alan Quinlan, whose Lions hopes have been destroyed by his own indiscipline.

And London Irish back Armitage is strongly-fancied for the midfield vacancy created by Wales star Tom Shanklin’s shoulder injury.

Croft and Armitage will be in opposition when Leicester and Irish contest this season’s Guinness Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has yet to announce replacements for Quinlan - who is now serving a 12-week ban – or Shanklin.

McGeechan’s squad assemble in Surrey next Monday, prior to leaving for Johannesburg on May 24.

England’s initial representation among the 37-man party was eight, but both Croft and Armitage are thought to be closing in on call-ups.

Munster flanker Quinlan was found guilty of making contact with the eye area of Leinster skipper Leo Cullen during a Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park on May 2.

Quinlan’s suspension means he is sidelined until September 10 – more than two months after the Lions tour ends. Rugby’s summer-off season is not included in the period he cannot play.

The 27-times capped Ireland international has a right of appeal, but as things stand he follows Shanklin and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary (ankle injury) in making a premature exit.

Quinlan had attracted interest from the Lions selectors partly due to his abrasive, no-nonsense playing style.

But his tour chances ended following an appearance before a three-man independent disciplinary panel, chaired by Welshman Roger Morris, in Dublin.

Quinlan was reported by match citing commissioner John Byett following the Cullen incident, which had been graphically captured on television slow motion replays.

The panel decided Quinlan was guilty of Law 10.4 (an act contrary to good sportsmanship) in that he made contact with Cullen’s eye area, albeit at what they decided was low range in terms of seriousness level for that offence.

Croft, meanwhile, was considered incredibly unfortunate to miss out on Lions selection.

He starred for England during the latter stages of this season’s RBS 6 Nations campaign, and was man of the match when they crushed France 34-10 at Twickenham.

Lions forwards coach Warren Gatland admitted publicly Croft was probably the unluckiest player to be a victim of the initial selection process.

And that fact has been underlined by his continued outstanding form for Leicester in their bid for a domestic and European double.

Croft will be a key part of Tigers’ title push this weekend, and seven days later he heads north to Edinburgh, where Leicester tackle Irish challengers Leinster in this season’s Heineken Cup final.

It will be a major surprise if Croft now does not win a belated Lions vote - albeit in unusual circumstances – although other candidates would include Wales captain Ryan Jones.

The Lions management could announce replacements for both Shanklin and Quinlan by the end of this week.