Wales backrow Ryan Jones has been ruled out of the Lions tour of South Africa on “medical grounds” just days after being called up to replace Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris.

The Wales captain underwent the “same routine medical testing as all replacement players” that “highlighted the fact that the player was not currently fit to play on the tour”, according to a statement released by the Lions management today.

The results of the tests prompted the Lions medical team to request an examination “by an independent neurosurgeon”, who found the player was not fit to partake in the tour, having sustained two “significant knocks to the head” while playing with Wales in North America recently.

“I am very disappointed that on medical grounds I have been told that I am not currently fit enough to play an active role on the tour,” said Jones today.

Head coach Ian McGeechan will not replace Jones just yet, if at all.

Jones was called up on Wednesday after Ferris damaged medial ligaments in his knee.