Wales’ James Hook has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad as a replacement for the injured Leigh Halfpenny.
PA Sport reports that Lions tour manager Gerald Davies confirmed on Saturday morning fly-half Hook will replace Halfpenny with the latter returning to Cardiff for treatment on his thigh injury.
Davies remains hopeful Halfpenny may be able to join the squad later in the tour while Hook has been pulled out of Wales’ tour to Canada and the United States in order to team up with Ian McGeechan’s squad.
Davies said: “Leigh Halfpenny has returned to Cardiff where he is to undergo treatment for his thigh injury.
“As the injury means he will miss the start of the tour Ian McGeechan and his fellow selectors have called up James Hook to the squad for the tour to South Africa.”
Head coach McGeechan admitted Hook’s ability with the boot was a factor in their decision to select him rather than full back Delon Armitage, a like-for-like replacement for Halfpenny.
“After analysing our requirements for a replacement as we head to South Africa on Sunday we decided that James was the ideal person to come into the tour squad,” he said.
“A very important consideration for us was to strengthen the goal kicking options in the squad.
“James is an accomplished goal kicker and has scored over 200 points for his country in his 33 appearances. Also, he has played at fly half, centre and fullback for Wales but is also comfortable at outside centre.
“He is very familiar with other backs in the squad having played in the same Welsh team as Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne. Three of these also play in the Ospreys team with him that also includes Tommy Bowe. Therefore there is an existing understanding between all of these players.”
McGeechan also thanked the Welsh Rugby Union for their co-operation.
“James has been pulled out of the Wales tour to Canada and USA by the Welsh Rugby Union,” he said.
“He was due to leave with them today for Canada but instead James will now join us in camp in Bagshot. We are very grateful to the WRU for releasing James for the British and Irish Lions tour.”
Ospreys star Hook is the latest in a line of replacements following injury withdrawals from the squad.
Yesterday, Scotland hooker Ross Ford was called up to replace the injured Jerry Flannery after the Irishman tore elbow ligaments in training.
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Flyhalf for a fullback.
now they have 3 flyhalves on tour. Good move IMO. 2 flyhalves were never going to be enough.
not a bad replacement imo, was surprised when Captain Hook didnt make the innitial squad
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) :
Halfpenny is named as a wing in the original squad though. It still doesn’t matter, it is a WISE choice to add Hook to the squad with Jones and O’Gara
This week is passing to slow for my patience 😆 Lions are going to beat the crap out of the Royal 15 😛 at least 15 points difference
@JarsonX (Comment 4) :
I’m so desperate for this tour to start i have actually made the pick for the 2nd match already. 😳
Let’s just give the S14 trophy to the Bulls and move everything a week earlier.
@JarsonX (Comment 4) :
A little more than that IMO. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : 2nd pick already 😯 and here i am thinking im impatient 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : thats AT LEAST 15, i actually picked them by 18, my reasons are secret 😛
Interesting fact: Golden Lions(Transvaal) has the best record against the B&I Lions, followed by WP, Bulls(NTVL), Freestate and lastly and most poorly Natal 😆 no thats actually bad 🙁
Im paging through the SA RUGBY Official Guide for the 2009 Lions series, alot of interesting stories and facts from the past. Very nice thing to have at only R29,95 available at your nearest CNA/PNA etc.
@JarsonX (Comment 10) : NO, I did not get paid to say that 😆
@JarsonX (Comment 9) :
I picked Tvl to lose to the lions on SB
@JarsonX (Comment 11) :
Did you at least get the book for free then? 😉
i’ll have to hope they are still available when i arrive in SA.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : well its only a magazine and its been on the shelves for almost a month, i can give u the publishers details if you’d like
@JarsonX (Comment 14) :
No need, I will be there in 12 days time. 😎
well it might not be on the shelves in 12 days time, its the end of the month next week. Its a SA Rugby product so they might mail you one if u cant find it lol