The British & Irish Lions have called James Hook into the squad as a replacement for the injured Leigh Halfpenny. Halfpenny will miss the beginning of the tour due to a thigh injury, but is expected to rejoin the squad after intensive treatment. The replacement player will however stay with the squad throughout the tour, regardless of Halfpenny's return.

Unveiling Hook, Tour Manager Gerald Davies said, "Leigh Halfpenny has returned to Cardiff where he is to undergo treatment for his thigh injury. As the injury means he will miss the start of the tour Ian McGeechan and his fellow selectors have called up James Hook to the squad for the tour to South Africa."

Commenting on the replacement Head Coach Ian McGeechan said, "After analysing our requirements for a replacement as we head to South Africa on Sunday we decided that James was the ideal person to come into the tour squad."

"A very important consideration for us was to strengthen the goal kicking options in the squad. James is an accomplished goal kicker and has scored over 200 points for his country in his 33 appearances. Also, he has played at fly half, centre and fullback for Wales but is also comfortable at outside centre."

"He is very familiar with other backs in the squad having played in the same Welsh team as Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne. Three of these also play in the Ospreys team with him that also includes Tommy Bowe. Therefore there is an existing understanding between all of these players."

"James has been pulled out of the Wales tour to Canada and USA by the Welsh Rugby Union. He was due to leave with them today for Canada but instead James will now join us in camp in Bagshot. We are very grateful to the WRU for releasing James for the British & Irish Lions tour."

Hook's announcement comes as something of a surprise. Delon Armitage of London Irish and England was the clear front runner to fill the slot, offering similar goal kicking and positional utility options to Leigh Halfpenny. Armitage was probably unlucky to miss out on the original tour selection, so being overlooked as a replacement for Halfpenny will be especially galling.

As a fly-half/centre and occasional full-back who hasn't yet found their position of choice, Hook is something of a different animal to Halfpenny. Goal-kicking has clearly been an important factor in selection and his choice over Armitage, may be a tacit acknowledgement of a squad weakness in this area.

Hook was due to tour North America this summer with the Welsh national side and Ospreys centre Sonny Parker will replace him.

Ian McGeechan and the Lions management have called up Scottish hooker Ross Ford to replace the injured Jerry Flannery. A replacement for Leigh Halfpenny has not yet been announced, but it is understood that a player will be announced in due course.

Tour manager, Gerald Davies said, "Munster hooker Jerry Flannery tore ligaments in his left elbow in training on Wednesday that unfortunately ruled him out of the tour. His place in the tour squad is taken by Edinburgh's 25-year old hooker Ross Ford who played in all five of Scotland's 2009 Six Nations championship matches."

They also clarified the extent of Flannery's injury, explaining that he saw an orthapedic specialist yesterday who confirmed that surgery would be required. Flannery will be operated on today and begin recovery immediately.

Ford becomes the fourth Scot to join the tour, up from two in the original touring party, after the earlier addition of Scottish captain Mike Blair was called up to replace the injured Tómas O'Leary.

Asked to comment on the call-up Ian McGeechan said, "Jerry has had a terrific season and he anchored the Irish scrum during Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam season. It is disappointing that after selection for the Lions his season should end with a pre-tour injury."

"Injuries are a part of the game and while very distressing for the affected player we as a squad have to accept them as a fact of life. It is a part of the game we play. We are focussed on moving forward, concentrating on the task at hand and the first match. Ross is a terrific player and he will naturally slot straight in as hooker. I look forward to welcoming him into camp tonight,"

The Lions management confirmed this afternoon that replacements for Jerry Flannery and Leigh Halfpenny (who is expected to return to the tour following treatment) will not be made until Friday 22nd May.

The British & Irish Lions will not replace Tom Shanklin in their touring squad, following his dislocating shoulder ruling him out of the tour.

At a press conference at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey, Ian McGeechan explained that originally going with 37 men was a safeguard against the possibility of Lions playing in the Heineken Cup final. "When we selected the extra player back in April we were really trying to cover all our bases regarding the Heineken Cup final, where we could have been without 16 players," McGeechan told a news conference to mark the squad's first day together.”

"As it's transpired, for the first two tour games we can cover the squad and really we want to give the opportunity and the responsibility to the players who are there to try to fill that role. "Going back to 36 just gives us the chance to give players and combinations a bit more game time which is so important with so little time before the first test."

The BBC is reporting that Leicester flanker Tom Croft is expected to replace Alan Quinlan should the Munsterman’s appeal fail. Quinlan was cited, and subsequently found guilty of gouging in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster.

The BBC are also reporting that the Lions are not expected to replace injured Blues centre Tom Shanklin, although it is unclear whether this is a short or long term decision. If Ian McGeechan intends not to replace Tom Shanklin for the duration of the tour, then the Lions player squad will be reduced to just 36 players.

We’ll have confirmation of these reports as soon as the management make their decisions known.

Martin Johnson has made it clear to his England Squad that not only is the Argentina test series this summer a full international fixture, but that it is the ideal proving ground for those potential Lions who may be called up in the event of injuries to the team in South Africa.

Talking to press, Johnson said: "I texted a few of the guys last week and reminded them that injuries happen on Lions tours. "If there are injuries, the best place they can be is playing tough rugby."

He went on to clarify the importance of the summer series in keeping England’s team momentum rolling.

"This is not a development tour. We are there to win the Test matches. I don't want people to think it doesn't matter because it is a development tour. We will put out our best team available to win that Test match. I get the vibe off some people - not within our party but around - that this is a development tour, it is under the radar. No it is not. It is England versus Argentina. We have won two Test matches on the trot [against France and Scotland in the final two rounds of the Six Nations] and we want to make that three the next time we play.”