Ireland’s summer tour preparations have suffered a further setback as Kevin McLaughlin became the third player to withdraw from the squad.
The Leinster flanker, capped just once in Ireland’s opening day victory over Italy in this season’s RBS 6 Nations, picked up a knee injury in his side’s 17-12 defeat to Ospreys in the inaugural Magners League Grand Final at RDS on Saturday.
McLaughlin joins Lions captain Paul O’Connell and Ulster hooker Rory Best on the sidelines after the pair withdrew from the tour of New Zealand and Australia on Friday with groin and ankle injuries respectively.
The 25-year old will be replaced by Munster’s Niall Ronan, capped twice last summer, who has linked up with squad in time for Friday’s clash with Barbarians at Thomond Park.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin’s teammate Shane Jennings, who also suffered an ankle injury in the Magners League Grand Final, has been ruled fit to rejoin the squad after a scan ruled out any serious damage.
