Injured Halfpenny grounded

Wales winger Leigh Halfpenny will not travel with the British and Irish Lions squad to South Africa on Sunday.

The Lions medical team have decided Halfpenny should remain at home to undergo intensive treatment on a thigh injury that has proved to be more significant than first thought.

Halfpenny remains part of the squad and he will join the Lions in South Africa once he has regained full fitness. He is expected to be sidelined for up to a fortnight.

With Halfpenny effectively ruled out of the Lions' first two tour matches, head coach Ian McGeechan will name a replacement taking the squad back up to 37 players.

Halfpenny will leave the Lions camp at Pennyhill Park on Thursday and return to Cardiff.

In a statement, the Lions medical team confirmed the injury will require at least 10 to 14 days' treatment.

"It is the belief of the Lions management team that it would be better for the player to receive intensive treatment in Cardiff," said the statement.

"The management have always had the expectation that travelling players should be fit to play the first game on tour.

"A replacement player will be announced in due course. However, once Leigh Halfpenny is fully fit he will rejoin the Lions in South Africa."

The additional player will take the Lions back to 37 players after McGeechan had initially decided not to replace the injured centre Tom Shanklin.