Death of official saddens Lions

Not even news of Keith Wood's reported improvement, and the increased possibility of him being fit for Saturday's first test, will have alleviated the deep sense of sadness which would have pervaded through the Lions' squad yesterday after the sudden death of their Australian Rugby Union liaison officer Anton Toia.

Having been whale watching without about half a dozen of the Lions players, Toia opted to swim ashore and apparently suffered a heart attack, dying on the beach at the squad's hotel base in Coffs Harbour.

He had been seen struggling at sea by two surfers, who brought him ashore, one of them racing to the hotel to raise the alarm but by the time the Lions doctor James Robson had run to the beach an ambulance service was already present and it is believed that Toia had already been pronounced dead.

Toia will be known to all international players, management, media and others who have toured Australia in the last decade in his capacity as an ARU liaison officer since 1987, as he was their appointed baggage man for all major visiting teams since 1990 , as was the case on Ireland's tour here two years ago.

He always had a smile and was an immensely popular figure. A 54-year-old New Zealander of Maori origins whose grandmother hailed from Fermanagh, he had played first-team rugby as a prop with the Easts club in Brisbane, playing well into his 40s. He was married and leaves behind two sons and a daughter.

Donal Lenihan, who had known Toia well from the Irish tour here in 1999, issued a statement saying: "Anton was a very popular member of the tour party and had made a valuable contribution to the Lions since linking up with us three weeks ago.

"Our deep condolences go out to his family and friends at this very sad time. You can understand the effect an event like this can have on the squad and the squad would appreciate a bit of space at this time."

Meanwhile the Lions confirmed the make-up of their bench for the New South Wales Country game today (3.0 p.m. local time, 6.0 a.m. Irish).

Both of the new arrivals, David Wallace and Dorian West, will go straight on to the bench on arrival after arriving in Sydney at 5.0 a.m. before making a connecting flight to Coffs Harbour Wallace having been flown out of Ireland's training camp in Poland in the first place and West having been on holiday with his family in Spain.

Ronan O'Gara was also picked on the bench, after the swelling went down on his eye wound, though he would need to wear protective bandaging were he to play.

Will Greenwood's ankle swelling is expected to improve over the next 48 hours, thereby making it possible for him to have a complete medical examination then.

Wallace becomes the eighth Garryowen player to represent the Lions following in the footsteps of Tom Reid, Gordon Wood, Mick Doyle, Noel Murphy, Tony Ward, Wood and brother Richard.

LIONS BENCH: Darren Morris (Wales), Doran West (England), Scott Murray (Scotland), David Wallace (Ireland), Matt Dawson (England), Ronan O'Gara (Ireland), Matt Perry (England).