 Early scans on Hill "suggest" a career-threatening knee injury |
Lions flanker Richard Hill could have suffered a career-threatening knee injury in the first Test against New Zealand, it has emerged. The Lions said a scan on Hill's left knee was "suggestive of damage" to his anterior cruciate ligament and that it would be assessed again this week.
If the injury is confirmed, it would mean a lengthy recuperation period for the 32-year-old England player.
Hill was also out from last October to April after surgery on the same knee.
He needed an operation to reconstruct his left ACL and missed most of Saracens' Premiership campaign and the Six Nations.
Lions skipper Brian O'Driscoll and centre Tom Shanklin are also out of the tour injured.
The Lions statement said Ireland's O'Driscoll, who dislocated his right shoulder in a controversial tackle in the first minute of the Test, "is likely, though not certain" to require surgery. Welshman Shanklin's right knee has a "recurrent swelling that has persisted and requires further investigation and rest".
MMIX
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