British and Irish Lions

Edinburgh and Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair has been selected by Lions head coach Ian McGeechan and his assistant coaches to replace the injured Tomas O'Leary.

O'Leary suffered a fractured ankle in April while playing for Munster in the Magners League and was therefore ruled out of the 10-match tour of South Africa.

"Sport can be very cruel," said McGeechan, who will also be required to name a replacement for injured centre Tom Shanklin.

"One minute Tomas was celebrating his well-earned call up to the Lions tour to South Africa, the next he is being carried off injured while playing for Munster against the Scarlets in Cork.

"Unfortunately the injury was a serious one and it ruled Tomas out of the tour. We wish Tomas all the very best for a quick recovery.

"The selectors and I have had plenty of time to review the situation in terms of a replacement scrum-half and were in agreement that Mike Blair should replace Tomas. He was on our reserve list for such an eventuality.

"Mike is an excellent addition to the Lions squad. As a national captain he is well respected by his peers and his 58 tests for Scotland mark him as a very capable and experienced scrum half," added McGeechan.

Skipper Sam Warburton was among five British & Irish Lions squad members who helped Thomas Pink transform the legendary White Horse pub in Parsons Green into 'The Pink Lion' to celebrate the upcoming Tour to Hong Kong and Australia on Saturday.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.