A WEEKEND of frustration and disappointment for the Lions was compounded yesterday afternoon when it was announced that Welsh international number eight Scott Quinnell will take no further part in the tour of South Africa and will return home. Quinnell has been ruled out because of a recurrence of a groin muscle injury that troubled him during last season.

The Lions manager Fran Cotton said he was unable to name a replacement for Quinnell until he could ascertain who is available. The favourite to replace Quinnell is Ben Clarke, who has just returned from Argentina with the England team. England international back row Tony Diprose is another possible contender. Clarke was outstanding for the Lions in New Zealand in 1993, but last season, after moving from Bath to Richmond, lost his place on the England team.

Quinnell played for the Lions in the defeat by Northern Transvaal at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday and completed the match. However, he reported to the team doctor James Rob son on Sunday that he was in discomfort from the injury described as "inflammation of the muscle attached to the groin". After examination by an orthopaedic surgeon yesterday, he knew his tour was over.

"I had some trouble during the season, but was fully fit when I travelled out with the Lions. But the injury recurred last Saturday and I knew I was in trouble. I will return home now and take two months rest and hope that I will be ready to start next season fully fit, " said the Welsh international.

Quinnell's departure means that in the space of eight days the Lions have lost no fewer than three players: out-half Paul Grayson, second row Doddie Weir and now Quinnell. When you add in the fact that they lost their unbeaten record to Northern Transvaal on Saturday, it has been an altogether bad week for the tourists.

Furthermore, centre Scott Gibbs became the first Lion in history to be cited and suspended for foul play. The Welsh international was cited for punching last Saturday, found guilty and suspended for one match.

Cotton was not, however, in a despondent mood when he announced Quinnell's departure.

"It is disappointing to lose another player, but these things happen on tours. One must bear in mind the intensity of the Lions' programme on this tour and that on average there are six replacements on every Lions tour.

Following a training session yesterday morning, the team to meet Gauteng Lions (Transvaal) under lights tomorrow night was named and includes Ireland's Paul Wallace and Jeremy Davidson. Ireland's other two representatives in the party, hooker Keith Wood and back row Eric Miller, are named among the replacements.

Davidson was unable to complete the training session because of a knee injury sustained during the session. However, he is confident he will play. "I stopped training as a precaution, I twisted the knee a little, but am not really worried about it," he said.

Centre Allan Bateman was also unable to complete the work. He has a slight hamstring problem, but again the expectation is that he will be fit.

"Both players have 48 hours before the match and while we will monitor their fitness in the interim, I feel they will both be able to play," said coach Ian McGeechan.

Reflecting on the defeat and performance against Northern Transvaal, McGeechan said: "I do not want another 40 minutes like the first half of that match. We played quite well in the closing 30 minutes and could have stolen it. We would not have deserved to do so, but we could have won."

Mike Catt and Nigel Redman, who joined the tour as replacements for Grayson and Weir respectively, are both included in the team for their first tour appearances. "I must say I was very surprised when I was told I was wanted to replace Doddie," said Redman. "I thought any chance of Lions selection had passed me by," added the 32-year-old Bath and England player.

Left wing Tony Underwood plays in his third consecutive match. In contrast, Welsh prop David Young has started in only game and again gets no further than the replacement bench.

The Lions players who are not in the 21 to play Gauteng travelled yesterday afternoon to Soweto to take a coaching clinic. The team to meet Gauteng will train under lights tonight in preparation for tomorrow's game, the first match of the tour to be played under floodlights.