Wales centre Tom Shanklin will miss the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after dislocating his right shoulder playing for Cardiff Blues against Newport Gwent Dragons.
Foxsport reports that Shanklin is expected to be out for 16 weeks after a scan revealed the need for reconstructive surgery on the joint.
“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,” Cardiff Blues chief executive Robert Norster said.
“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. Suffice to say Tom picked up the injury whilst giving his all for our team and we are all feeling for him at this difficult time of disappointment and frustration.”
Ireland scrum-half Tomas O’Leary has already withdrawn from the squad, after breaking an ankle playing for Munster, and Munster flanker Alan Quinlan is also in doubt.
Quinlan will appear before a disciplinary panel to answer a charge of making contact with an opponent’s eye on Wednesday. His prospects of making the tour hinge on his appearance before a disciplinary panel on Wednesday to answer a charge of making contact with an opponent’s eye
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So if your name is Tom and you are part of the Lions touring squad, you must be a little nervous right now. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) :
🙄 🙄
im sure there are guys out there who are more than able to fill their shoes though
yip..as they are able 2 draw players from 4 countries, they have a huge player pool 2 dip into. Now if they were 2 lose O’Driscoll that would be massive!