LIST: Three players whose Lions tours were ended by thuggery

Weir has been going through a well publicized battle with motor neuron disease (MND) and has received large amounts of support from the rugby public. Looking back to early on in his career, here is a moment that most fans will not forget. 

Sadly, it’s hard to forget for all the wrong reasons, as it was a piece of horrendous play that injured the second row and ultimately ruled him out of the rest of the tour of South Africa.

Playing in a midweek fixture in a heated clash against Mpumalanga, Weir had his knee stamped on by lock Marius Bosman.

On June 25th, 2005 Lions captain O’Driscoll was the victim of a spear tackle 41 seconds into the first Test against New Zealand in the Jade stadium in Christchurch.

The Irish centre suffered a tour ending shoulder injury that required surgery while the perpetrators, All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu, received no official censure, at the time or subsequently, for their actions.

The incident’s ripple effect lapped at interviews for more than a decade, initially polluted by rancour.

It was a topic that niggled at and relentlessly pursued O’Driscoll and Umaga through the remainder of their playing careers and beyond.

During the British & Irish Lions 2001 tour match against New South Wales in Australia, tempers frayed and Duncan McRae was deservedly sent off for repeatedly punching O’Gara in the face.

Subsequent fights broke out across the pitch and four yellow cards followed – two for each side – as the referee tried to get a grip on the game.