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Head coach Ian McGeechan looks certain to set an unwanted record for the Lions in South Africa after discovering that Jerry Flannery has suffered a serious elbow injury and that Alan Quinlan has lost his appeal against a ban.
McGeechan, who has called up Tom Croft to replace Quinlan, had already lost Tomas O'Leary (broken ankle) and Tom Shanklin (dislocated shoulder) while Leigh Halfpenny is staying behind when the tour party leave on Sunday because he needs at least two weeks to overcome a thigh injury.
No Lions squad in the modern era have suffered so many setbacks before a tour and it highlights the dangers of allowing the European season to run right up to the 10-match trip.
Key Lions, including Brian O'Driscoll, will be in Saturday's Heineken Cup Final for Leinster against Leicester, while tighthead prop Euan Murray plays for Northampton tomorrow against Bourgoin in the Challenge Cup Final. Patently, McGeechan could have even more changes to make.
The loss of Ireland's Flannery, who needs surgery to repair elbow ligament damage suffered in training yesterday, means McGeechan must choose between the hooker's compatriot, Rory Best, and Scotland's Ross Ford.
While the Lions enjoyed a farewell dinner at the Natural History Museum last night, news filtered through that Quinlan's 12-week ban for 'making contact' with the eyes of Leinster's Leo Cullen would stand. That decision has led to Croft's call-up and he gives McGeechan his only genuine line-out option in the back row.
England team manager Martin Johnson must now find a replacement for the Leicester forward in his own squad for the match with the Barbarians and the two Tests against Argentina.
Johnson could lose another player today with London Irish's Delon Armitage favourite to replace Cardiff wing Halfpenny, who will join the tour once he has recovered.
