Injury sees Lions lock returning home

Malcolm O'Kelly

Irish lock Malcolm O'Kelly is the first casualty of the Lions tour, even before a ball has been kicked in anger.

The 2.03m lineout king, the tallest player in the squad, will return home after suffering a recurrence of an old groin injury during training in Auckland this week.

O'Kelly, whose 73 Irish caps are a national record, toured Australia with the 2001 Lions. However, he did not have a trip to savour, playing just three games.

A visit to an Auckland specialist yesterday confirmed his worst fears about the extent of the injury. "I have to be philosophical and accept the judgment of the doctors," 30-year-old O'Kelly said. "I've had this problem for a while but had managed to keep it at bay."

A replacement was expected to be named overnight.

Coach Sir Clive Woodward described O'Kelly as "a terrific player".

"It is always sad when a top-class player loses out to injury like this.

"We agreed there's no chance of him being fit enough to play and it was better for the tour if a replacement was called out."

Locks had been regarded as one of the strongest areas of the Lions squad even before they arrived in New Zealand.

O'Kelly, a proven ball-winner and an awkward opponent, will be missed.

He and fellow Irishman Paul O'Connell, with English pair Ben Kay and Danny Grewcock, were regarded as strong test contenders, with a third Irishman, Donncha O'Callaghan, as their back-up.

The other player occupying the thoughts of medical staff is talented Scottish loose-forward Simon Taylor.

He has been troubled by a left hamstring strain and has been unable to train.

The latest bulletin from the Lions management says Taylor's injury is improving.