Cape Town - The Lions will be without captain Warren Whiteley for the rest of the Super Rugby campaign.

This was confirmed by the Johannesburg-based union on Monday after the No 8 returned from Springbok action with an injured AC joint in his right shoulder following Saturday's 19-13 win for the Springboks over Ireland in Port Elizabeth.

That was Whiteley's first start for the Springboks after a couple of impressive performances off the bench in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The Lions confirmed that an MRI scan on Monday revealed a grade III injury.

The specialist confirmed on Tuesday that he did not require surgery yet, but that he would only return to action in about six weeks.

The Lions, who host the Sharks at Ellis Park this weekend, will now be captained by flank Jaco Kriel.

Kriel made his Springbok debut off the bench in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.



