BREAKING: British & Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones ruled out of tour

The British & Irish Lions side have suffered a huge blow during their warm up game before boarding the plane to South Africa, with veteran captain Alun Wyn Jones ruled out of the upcoming tour to South Africa.

It wasn’t looking good for Jones

Jones cut a distraught figure as he left the field of play clutching his left wrist, accompanied by Lions medical staff with just seven minutes gone in their game against Japan on Saturday afternoon.

The Wales international captain Jones came out second best in a ruck collision against Japan lock James Moore, with the latter cleaning out Jones as he was trying to poach the possession for the Lions in the 10 metre line and the writing was on the wall.

Said to be a dislocated shoulder

The second rower was then replaced by England international Courtney Lawes. While Jones was holding on to his wrist, it was later said that his injury was in fact a dislocated shoulder. The Lions fans as well as Jones have now had their worst fears confirmed after the severity of his injury was confirmed to be enough to prevent him from touring.

Former Lions teammates comment

A former Lions teammate of Jones from their previous tour to South Africa in 2009, and ex-Ireland international Jamie Heaslip was present at Murrayfield working for a broadcaster. He fuelled speculation that it could, indeed be serious.

“It takes a lot for that man to be down on the ground for any sort of time so let’s hope that he is alright,” said Heaslip on Jones.

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“You see him looking at his wrist straightaway when in that ruck. It looks like he has taken a nasty blow on it and let’s hope that he is alright and it’s nothing too serious. You can see him here, he is going in for the poach and it looks like his left arm is caught off position as the ruck is coming through. It’s a legitimate challenge… you can see what it means to him to be coming off that field.” He continued to describe what happened to Jones

Heaslip was not the only former Lions teammate of Jones to speak about his injury. His former captain for Wales Sam Warburton gave a very worrying early diagnosis on his former teammates injury at half time.

Warburton pessimistic

“It’s a great shame after seven minutes, particular for your captain to go down. If this is a suspected dislocated shoulder, it’s quite a big thing and you are not coming back from that. If it’s a dislocated shoulder you are going to be a month or two minimum. I know his wrist is limp, maybe he has got some peripheral nerve thing but if it is a dislocated shoulder it is unlikely we are going to see him play again.” He said

Speaking during the first half, Lions assistant coach weighed in on Jones’ injury

Lions assistant coach speaks

“Let’s hope it is not too bad news for our captain. It was gutting to see him going off injured like that.” He said regarding Jones

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Worst fears confirmed

After the game, Lions coach Warren Gatland confirmed the fears, stating that the next step now was to discuss who Jones’ replacement will be, with the rest of us his coaching staff

It did not seem to be a good day for Welsh forwards as the Lions would go on to lose flank Justin Tuperic as well, after just 21 minutes. He now faces and anxious wait and will be hoping for a different outcome to Jones.