Flannery has a suspected fractured arm

[ronk]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/ma ... -tom-croft

Gone down in training.
Hope this isn't true. I rate Mears as a player but Flannery is in brilliant form. He was one of the few Munster pack members that stood out against Leinster.

[Vamos los azules]

Yikes, not another one gone. Are the Munster guys cursed? They started off with the highest representation but at the rate they're dropping out they'll be lucky to have any left by the time the tests come round. Hope it's not a break because Fla definitely deserved a test start

[mush500]

saying he's out now on sky sports, real pity.

[the leader]

yeah breaking news on sky sports. bad stuff, wouldn't be overly keen on the other two there.

[LeopoldButters]

Best should get the call up here i think, he is the best man for going to SA! - dont think he will though

[Vamos los azules]

Presumably Best or Ford? Would be nice to see Best get the call

[Munki]

Taken from RTE website:

Flannery ruled out of Lions tour
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 22:43
Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of the Lions tour to South Africa due to injury.


In the latest injury blow to the Lions, the combative Ireland hooker suffered a chipped bone in his left elbow during training on Wednesday afternoon.


A scan revealed the extent of the damage and Flannery requires surgery that will prevent him from departing for South Africa with the rest of the squad on Sunday.

The Lions management have yet to name a replacement but must choose between Ireland's Rory Best and Ross Ford of Scotland, who are on the standby list for the position.


Set-piece specialist Best, who has markedly improved his all-round game in recent seasons, was a contender to make the initial 37-strong squad despite his position behind Flannery in Ireland's pecking order.


The Ulster skipper is currently leading Ireland's tour to Canada and the United States and had been included in the starting line-up for Saturday's Test against the Canucks.


Ford was another front-rower in contention to make the original party and the abrasive 25-year-old was considered unlucky to miss out

[thecoolfreak]

Feel very sorry for Fla. Deserved his call up. First TOL and now Flannery! Must be very hard for Flannery after getting a taste of things in training the past 2 days

[Mackman15]

Flannery ruled out of Lions tour

Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of the Lions tour to South Africa due to injury.


In the latest injury blow to the Lions, the combative Ireland hooker suffered a chipped bone in his left elbow during training on Wednesday afternoon.


A scan revealed the extent of the damage and Flannery requires surgery that will prevent him from departing for South Africa with the rest of the squad on Sunday.

The Lions management have yet to name a replacement but must choose between Ireland's Rory Best and Ross Ford of Scotland, who are on the standby list for the position.


Set-piece specialist Best, who has markedly improved his all-round game in recent seasons, was a contender to make the initial 37-strong squad despite his position behind Flannery in Ireland's pecking order.


The Ulster skipper is currently leading Ireland's tour to Canada and the United States and had been included in the starting line-up for Saturday's Test against the Canucks.


Ford was another front-rower in contention to make the original party and the abrasive 25-year-old was considered unlucky to miss out.

[edofla]

just heard about it shocking news. Have to feel sorry for flannery you wouldn't wish it on anyone, hopefully best will get the call up!

[sarah_lennon]

rotten rotten luck. Jesus they're dropping like flies.

[suisse]

Feck sake. Players are dropping like flies now. Anyone else get a rotten feeling about this tour? Great for the Leinster (and Irish) boys, but this has the look of a nightmare.

At this rate, I should keep mu June free, and charge my phone. Geech will be giving me a text shortly.

Hard luck Flannery, cruel blow. Recover soon!

[sarah_lennon]

Dowling could get a call up at this rate

[ronk]

Really tough for Flannery. He's the first player out who's a major loss.

He was a test XXII certainty (at least). There aren't any like for like replacements available but there are some good players.

[rooster]

Aledgedly Best is getting the shout, not sure what happens about his place in Canada or US though, prehaps he will play Saturday and Jackman fly out on Sunday.

[tackle-bag]

This is a sad day for Irish rugby, I'm genuinely distraught on hearing this news. Fla is one of the finest hookers in the game at the moment and it was obvious from listening to interviews with him recently that this was going to be the pinnacle of his career. People have under-stated his position above - in light of the squad selection, he was effectively guaranteed the number 2 test jersey as the others aren't in his league. Jesus, this is some injustice, I don't know what more to say...

[jrc]

Dowling could get a call up at this rate

I'm pretty confident I'd be called up myself before Dowling would, and I haven't heard anything from McGeechan yet....

[Avenger]

Feel bad for Fla. Would have been test starter IMO.
Big blow to the Lions.

[Hickiefan]

Cruel

[jezzer]

Shocking news. Poor fecker