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Page last updated at 12:43 GMT, Thursday, 18 June 2009 13:43 UK

Injury ends Murray's Lions tour

Euan Murray leaves the field after leaves the field injured after suffering an injury during the British and Irish Lions Tour match between Southern Kings
Euan Murray's ankle injury has ruled him out of the rest of the tour

Scotland prop Euan Murray has been ruled out of the rest of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Northampton's Murray has failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained during the victory over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth earlier this week.

An X-ray showed there was no fracture, but he will remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, former player John Beattie said it was embarrassing that no Scots were named in the side to face South Africa in Saturday's opening Test.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan has called up Ireland prop John Hayes to replace Murray.

"The medical team have now fully assessed Euan's injury and have determined it is serious enough to mean he will play no further part on the tour," said McGeechan.

"Euan left the field because of the injury and has damaged the structures around the ankle joint."

Beattie, now a BBC Scotland pundit, said he was disappointed no Scots were in the Lions side for Saturday's clash in Durban.

I think it's embarrassing that we have no Scots involved

Former international John Beattie

"I'm embarrassed by it," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sports Report.

"I think it's embarrassing that we have no Scots involved. The last time this happened was 2005 - no Scots in the team or on the bench.

"They went on to have a disastrous tour of New Zealand. And we've just heard that Euan Murray has been ruled out of the tour completely.

"I don't think we were strong enough in arguing for enough Scottish players to go."

Beattie added that the Scots on the tour had failed to hit the heights in the games so far.

"The players who could've got in the team haven't played that well.

"Ross Ford hasn't played that well; every time he throws in the commentators are talking about squint throws and Nathan Hines was the closest."

Beattie said it was not the best day for Scottish rugby, adding: "If you're honest, we don't have players who rival Brian O'Driscoll and Jamie Roberts, and I think questions will be asked after this tour as to why not."


British and Irish Lions team to play South Africa in the first Test in Durban on Saturday:
L Byrne (Wales and Ospreys); T Bowe (Ireland and Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Ireland and Leinster), J Roberts (Wales and Cardiff Blues), U Monye (England and Harlequins); S Jones (Wales and Scarlets), M Phillips (Wales and Ospreys); G Jenkins (Wales and Cardiff Blues), L Mears (England and Bath), P Vickery (England and Wasps), Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales and Ospreys), P O'Connell (Ireland and Munster, capt), T Croft (England and Leicester), D Wallace (Ireland and Munster), J Heaslip (Ireland and Leinster).

Replacements: M Rees (Wales and Scarlets), A Jones (Wales and Ospreys), D O'Callaghan (Ireland and Munster), M Williams (Wales and Cardiff Blues), H Ellis(England and Leicester), R O'Gara (Ireland and Munster), R Kearney (Ireland and Leinster).



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see also
Hayes called up into Lions squad
18 Jun 09 |  Rugby Union
Southern Kings 8-20 Lions
16 Jun 09 |  Rugby Union
Hook gives Lions a fitness boost
18 Jun 09 |  Rugby Union
Wallace and Monye start for Lions
18 Jun 09 |  Rugby Union
Lions squad selector
07 May 09 |  Rugby Union
2009 Lions: Squad & results
09 Jul 09 |  Rugby Union


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