North ruled out of Lions tour with serious knee injury

George North will miss the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after suffering a serious knee injury.

The versatile Wales back on Wednesday confirmed he sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the Ospreys' Pro14 Rainbow Cup win over Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

North will undergo surgery next week and could be out for up to nine months, ruling him out of contention for what could have been his third Lions tour.

The 29-year-old tweeted: "Sport can be cruel. We all know the risks when we take the field.

"Unfortunately I ruptured my ACL on Saturday and will need surgery next week. Heartbroken is an understatement."

Sport can be cruel. We all know the risks when we take the field. Unfortunately I ruptured my ACL on Saturday and will need surgery next week. Heartbroken is an understatement. pic.twitter.com/icNDEmYmHE

— George North (@George_North) April 28, 2021

North's club said in a statement: "The Ospreys can confirm wing George North has suffered an ACL injury to his right knee and will be ruled out for the rest of the season."

"The Wales wing saw a specialist in London earlier this week and will undergo surgery next week. "

North impressed at outside centre as Wales won the Six Nations title this year and looked set to be selected in Warren Gatland's Lions squad to face the Springboks.