Irish lock Malcolm O'Kelly's Lions tour is over after he aggravated a groin injury in training on Wednesday. Lions medical staff were optimistic at first but after seeing a New Zealand specialist on Thursday, O'Kelly was ruled out of the tour.
England and Wasps lock Simon Shaw, 31, has been called into the 45-man squad as a straight replacement for O'Kelly.
"It's very sad for Mal. His attitude has been first class," said Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward.
"We spoke after he saw the specialist today and agreed there was no chance of him being fit enough to play and it was better for the tour if a replacement was called out."
Shaw, who has won 28 caps for England, was called up as a late injury replacement during the 2003 World Cup but the nearest he got to action was a place on the bench in the quarter-final victory over Wales.
He was also a member of the victorious 1997 Lions squad in South Africa but failed to make the Test team.
Shaw, who was told as he prepared for Martin Johnson's Testimonial match this weekend, said: "I am absolutely delighted but feel for Mal and wish him well in his recovery.
 Shaw was sent off for England against New Zealand in 2004 |
"It is a great honour to be involved with the Lions, and to be honest it is all just sinking in but it will be fantastic to get out there and I am looking forward to the challenge that we will face in New Zealand."
O'Kelly, 30, strained an abdominal muscle in Cardiff before the squad's departure for New Zealand and missed the 25-25 draw with Argentina.
On Wednesday, he was dropped from the bench in favour of Donncha O'Callaghan for Saturday's tour opener as a "precautionary measure".
But the Auckland-based specialist revealed a more deep-rooted problem in his groin.
O'Kelly said: "I am obviously very disappointed that for me the tour is over.
"I have had this problem for a while but had managed to keep it at bay. I have to be philosophical and accept the judgement of the doctors.
"It is as well just to accept it and go home, and let the coaches and players get on with the job of trying to win the series against New Zealand.
"They are a great bunch and though I am sorry I will no longer be part of it, I wish them all the best."
O'Kelly, Ireland's most-capped player with 73 appearances for his country, started three matches and played a fourth as a replacement on the Lions' 2001 tour of Australia.
He scored one try against Queensland President's XV in Townsville.
Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll said: "All of us, but perhaps most of all Mal's Irish team-mates, are obviously saddened at the news.
"We've known about his injury but like him hoped it would not flare up like this. It is typical of Mal that he has taken it in the spirit he has."
Lions doctor James Robson did have good news regarding Scottish loose-forward Simon Taylor, who he expects to make a full recovery from his hamstring injury.
"In days gone by that may have ruled him out of the tour," said Robson, who has the luxury of a five-strong back-up team, including another doctor and four physios.
"But he has done twice daily rehab conditioning work with Stuart Barton, one of our physios, and he is now at the point where he is opening up to do some sprint work.
"Simon has worked extremely hard and will be available for selection shortly."
Robson also admitted that the medical team has already been busy but insisted the tour party was in "exceptional health".
"Thirty-eight (of the 43 players on tour) have so far had treatment from the medical team," he said.
"We are averaging 30 hands-on treatments a day.
"We are providing intensive rehab for three players on a one-to-one basis each day.
"We are heavily involved in pre-hab. You will be aware of the recent injury audit which says 40% of injuries occur in training.
"Those numbers do not worry me at all. A lot of the guys have chronic bad backs, chronic hip problems - we are dealing with things that are ongoing problems.
"It does not mean the tour party is falling apart. In actual fact, the tour party is in exceptional health.
"It is exceptional to find a player who does not have one niggle or another.
"And we have seven, if my calculations are correct, who have no niggles at all."
MMIX
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It is typical of Mal that he has taken it in the spirit he has
