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Leigh Halfpenny
Flying home: Leigh Halfpenny damaged his thigh in training

Leigh Halfpenny and Stephen Ferris to miss rest of the tour

Chris Jones
10 Jun 2009


Leigh Halfpenny has become the second Lions player in 24 hours to be forced out of the tour through injury.

The Wales wing damaged his thigh in training and will now go home having joined up with the squad two weeks late after suffering the same injury last month.

With Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy and Wales's James Hook in the squad the Lions have decided not to call up a replacement as they believe they have adequate cover.

That is a blow for Delon Armitage and Mark Cueto, who are part of the England team due to face Argentina in Salta on Saturday, as they had both been contenders to replace Halfpenny.

Last night, Irish flanker Stephen Ferris was ruled out of the tour due to knee ligament damage and the Lions also have fears over No8 Andy Powell, who has a serious hand injury.

Ferris's injury has led to a belated call-up for Wales captain Ryan Jones, a controversial omission from the original party.

The back-row forward does not envisage any problems with Warren Gatland, the Wales and Lions coach, who made it clear he wasn't playing well enough to make the squad last month.

Jones, who will meet up with the squad in Cape Town tomorrow, said: “I am delighted to have received this call-up and am really looking forward to joining the squad. “It is disappointing for Stephen but I wish him a quick recovery. This is a great honour for me.”

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