Lions summon Ryan Jones

Taylor losing battle for fitness

Wales and Ospreys forward Ryan Jones has been summoned to join the Lions in New Zealand amid growing concerns about Simon Taylor's fitness.

Jones, a member of Wales' RBS Six Nations Grand Slam squad this season, is to fly out as the third Lions squad addition after England lock Simon Shaw and Ireland flanker Simon Easterby.

Scottish star Taylor is struggling with a hamstring problem and has withdrawn from the Lions starting line-up for Saturday's game against New Zealand Maori.

The Lions say that Jones is not replacing Taylor, but the decision to fly Jones out suggests Taylor's tour could soon be over.

Taylor suffered injury heartache on the 2001 Lions trip to Australia, suffering a serious knee injury in the opening game against Western Australia and then returning home.

Taylor will be replaced by Welsh international Michael Owen, who starts for the second time in four days after playing a prominent role during the midweek victory over Taranaki in New Plymouth, with Simon Easterby taking Owen's original bench spot.

The Lions have already lost number eight Lawrence Dallaglio and Irish lock Malcolm O'Kelly to tour-ending injuries, and speculation will now inevitably increase that Taylor could join them.

The Lions have three games - against Wellington, Otago and Southland - before the June 25 first Test - which underlines Taylor's difficult fight.

The 38-times capped forward experienced what the Lions termed as "some discomfort" with his hamstring after training on Friday, forcing him to pull out.

"Any injury is a concern, but he is getting expert help and hopefully he will be fit for the following week," said Lions' coach Andy Robinson after the tourists arrived in Hamilton on Friday from their Auckland base.

"It is better to give him more time to recover. We have a big squad and we are able to cope with it."

Speaking before Friday's latest injury blow, Taylor said: "It has been hard. When you are injured, you don't think about anything else apart from how miserable you are."

Taylor's situation will continue to be monitored over the next few days, and although the Lions have plenty of cover in the back-row positions, Owen, for one, will not be available to face Wellington.

He will make a flying visit home on Sunday to be with his pregnant wife, Lucy, before returning to join the tour party.