British and Irish Lions

Two former Springbok World Cup winners, Joost van der Westhuizen and Ruben Kruger, were taken to hospital within hours of the second Test finishing in Pretoria at the weekend.

The former Blue Bulls and South African team mates were involved in separate incidents. Scrum half van der Westhuizen was admitted to Sunninghill Hospital after collapsing at his Johannesburg home shortly after returning from Loftus Versfeld.

The 38-year-old was complaining of chest pains and was reported to be in a stable condition after arriving at the hospital.
Kruger, meanwhile, fell unconscious at the wheel of his car as he was driving home his wife and two children. The 39-year-old former back row star recently had a brain tumor removed.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit at Pretoria East Hospital, where he was in a serious but stable condition. He suffered serious head and facial injuries in the crash, although his wife and two daughters received only minor injuries.

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Radike Samo, one of only two players still playing top level rugby in Australia who placed against the 2001 British & Irish Lions, will return to top flight action with Queensland Reds against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.