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RUGBY:THE CURSE which has afflicted Munster since the announcement of the Lions squad continues apace, with Jerry Flannery emerging as the latest casualty. On foot of their record eight-man representation, not alone did Munster lose their European crown to Leinster and see Tomás O’Leary and Alan Quinlan miss out on the tour to South Africa through injury and suspension, but yesterday Flannery sustained a chipped bone in his left elbow which has ruled him out of the tour as well.

The 30-year-old was rushed to hospital for X-rays after sustaining the injury while training with the Lions squad in Bagshot. The scan confirmed the extent of the damage, and the injury will require surgery. This prompted the Lions management to rule Flannery out of the tour last night, thereby reducing Munster’s original contingent of eight to five.