Hook joins Stephen Jones and Ronan O'Gara as recognised fly-halves in the squad © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: James Hook

Tournaments/Tours: British and Irish Lions tour

Teams: Wales

Wales' James Hook has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad as a replacement for the injured Leigh Halfpenny.

Lions tour manager Gerald Davies confirmed this morning fly-half Hook will replace Halfpenny with the latter returning to Cardiff for treatment on his thigh injury. Davies remains hopeful Halfpenny may be able to join the squad later in the tour while Hook has been pulled out of Wales' tour to Canada and the United States in order to team up with Ian McGeechan's squad.

"Leigh Halfpenny has returned to Cardiff where he is to undergo treatment for his thigh injury," said Davies. "As the injury means he will miss the start of the tour Ian McGeechan and his fellow selectors have called up James Hook to the squad for the tour to South Africa."

Head coach McGeechan admitted Hook's ability with the boot was a factor in their decision to select him rather than fullback Delon Armitage, a like-for-like replacement for Halfpenny.

"After analysing our requirements for a replacement as we head to South Africa on Sunday we decided that James was the ideal person to come into the tour squad," he said. "A very important consideration for us was to strengthen the goal kicking options in the squad.

"James is an accomplished goal kicker and has scored over 200 points for his country in his 33 appearances. Also, he has played at fly half, centre and fullback for Wales but is also comfortable at outside centre.

"He is very familiar with other backs in the squad having played in the same Welsh team as Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne. Three of these also play in the Ospreys team with him that also includes Tommy Bowe. Therefore there is an existing understanding between all of these players."

McGeechan also thanked the Welsh Rugby Union for their co-operation. "James has been pulled out of the Wales tour to Canada and USA by the Welsh Rugby Union," he said. "He was due to leave with them today for Canada but instead James will now join us in camp in Bagshot. We are very grateful to the WRU for releasing James for the British and Irish Lions tour."

Ospreys star Hook is the latest in a line of replacements following injury withdrawals from the squad. Yesterday, Scotland hooker Ross Ford was called up to replace the injured Jerry Flannery after the Irishman tore elbow ligaments in training.

Lions casualties:

Tomas O'Leary
Having successfully dislodged Peter Stringer in Ireland's Grand Slam-winning XV, the Munster scrum-half looked a good bet to take the Lions' number nine jersey. But his dreams were shattered only a matter of days after the squad announcement as he broke his ankle against Scarlets.

Replacement: Mike Blair (Scotland)

Tom Shanklin
Lightning struck a second time for the wholehearted Cardiff centre when he was ruled out of the trip after dislocating his shoulder against Newport Gwent Dragons earlier this month. Shanklin suffered a similar fate four years ago when he was sent home early from the 2005 tour with a knee problem he had picked up prior to departure.

Replacement: None selected

Alan Quinlan
A surprise pick in the initial party, the 34-year-old Munster forward saw what could have been his international swansong taken away by a disciplinary committee. He was handed a 12-week ban for making contact with the eye or eye area of Leinster's Leo Cullen in the Heineken Cup semi-final, a decision he unsuccessfully appealed against.

Replacement: Tom Croft (England)

Jerry Flannery
The second Irishman to be confined to the treatment table this summer, Flannery was ruled out after chipping a bone in his elbow. With a lack of outstanding candidates at hooker, Flannery had looked certain to start as first choice in the Test series. His removal from the party leaves a set-piece area lacking in depth looking more vulnerable than ever.

Replacement: Ross Ford (Scotland)

Leigh Halfpenny
The Welsh youngster, who can operate as both a winger and full-back, has been a revelation since his elevation to the national team and would almost certainly have been handed the chance to play his way into the first XV. He has not been ruled out of the entire tour but will miss up to two weeks as he stays behind in Cardiff recovering from a thigh injury. Delon Armitage appears to be in pole position should McGeechan want like-for-like cover.

Replacement: James Hook (Wales)