Jonny Wilkinson will almost certainly miss the Lions tour to South Africa this summer after the rehabilitation of his injured left kneecap was put back a further two weeks, according to reports last night. The England fly-half had hoped to return to action for Newcastle later this month but he will now be left off the teamsheet for the Falcons' next two matches, meaning he will not play before the Lions squad is announced on 21 April.

Wilkinson will miss Newcastle's European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Saracens on Easter Sunday and also looks set to miss their match against Bath the following weekend.

The Lions head coach, Ian McGeechan, has maintained his selection policy will be based on form and not reputation, which makes a last-minute reprieve for the World Cup winner virtually impossible.