Lions Tour:Gordon D'Arcy may yet be on the plane to South Africa with the Lions after it was confirmed this afternoon that Wales centre Tom Shanklin will be out for 16 weeks with a dislocated shoulder. The 29-year-old injured his right shoulder in Cardiff Blues' Magners League victory over Newport-Gwent Dragons last night and was immediately taken to hospital for an X-ray.
A further scan this morning revealed the need for reconstructive surgery on the joint, and, with the Lions heading for Africa in 17 days, Shanklin’s hopes of facing the Springboks are over.
His absence could now open the door for D’Arcy, whose performance and try against Munster in the European Cup semi-final must have caught the attention of coach Ian McGeechan.
The Scot may have another decision to make next week after Alan Quinlan’s disciplinary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th.
The Munster backrow has been charge under law 10.4k – acts contrary to good sportsmanship – after allegedly making contact with the “eye/eye area” of Leinster captain Leo Cullen in the 59th minute of the record-breaking semi-final in Croke Park.
The independent disciplinary committee will be chaired by Roger Morris (Wales) and also comprise Simon Thomas (Wales) and Mike Hamlin (England).
Leinster coach, Michael Cheika, believed Quinlan’s actions were not intentional and Cullen refused to comment directly on the incident, but the flanker is still facing the possibility of a lengthy ban.
England flanker Tom Croft and Wales captain Ryan Jones would be among the contenders to replace him on the tour.
Ireland had a record 14 players included in the initial squad, but that has already been reduced to 13 after scrumhalf Tomás O’Leary broke his ankle in a recent Magners League fixture.
The first tour match against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg is on May 30th.
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