Shanks out of tour

Knee Injury
By Andrew Collins
June 26 2005

Cardiff Blues and Wales centre Tom Shanklin is out of the Lions tour of New Zeeland following knee injury which occurred in training. Tom situation was described as a "Recurrent swelling that has persisted and requires further investigation and rest".

Shanklin’s injury is a real blow for the Lions, having been one of the better performers and one of the many Welsh try scorers on tour. The injury comes at a particularly bad time as captain Brian O’Driscoll is going home with a dislocated shoulder. Shanklin was the perfect replacement for the Irishman, but they will now have to look at Greenwood or D’arcy to play at the outside centre or look to someone like Gareth Thomas or Josh Lewsey.

 

Veteran Richard Hill also looks set to be going home after picking up a knock in the first test on Saturday. Second-rower Danny Grewcock has picked up a 2-match ban for biting; Woodward is set to call up cover, likely to be Wales’ adopted Australian, Brent Cockbain.

 

Meanwhile, gareth Thomas has been named tour captain in O'Driscoll's absence.