Jared Payne stood down from Lions training following migraines

Jared Payne has been stood down due to migraine symptoms. Picture: Getty.

The Ireland centre was withdrawn from the British and Irish Lions’ clash against the Hurricanes last Tuesday after complaining of headaches, and faces further tests as the problem continues to linger.

Lions medical chief Dr Eanna Falvey admitted there is no clear return date for Payne yet, despite the 31-year-old progressing through a raft of tests.

“He’s actually suffering from migraine,” Dr Falvey said of Payne, who has remained in Wellington after the Lions’ second Test win over New Zealand for further testing.

“He had a bang in the Chiefs game (on 20 June ), but he was fully cleared from concussion. But he’s been struggling with migraines and that’s an independent process since then.”

Payne missed the Lions’ 31-31 draw against Hurricanes, and was then not involved in  Saturday’s 24-21 triumph over the All Blacks.

The Ulster flyer has stayed in Wellington while the Lions squad have moved on to Queenstown. The tourists will face New Zealand in the third and decisive Test at Eden Park on Saturday.

“Jared’s slightly more difficult,” Dr Falvey said of Payne’s recovery situation. “Thankfully all his tests have been good. He’s suffering from migraine symptoms at the moment.

“The specialist is quite happy with him. He’ll have a couple more minor tests, and that will give us more idea. But while he still has a headache, he won’t be training.”

Ireland and Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw could now face a four-month lay-off after tearing his pectoral muscle off the bone. “The muscle needs to be reattached, and that’s usually about a 16-week recovery,” Dr Falvey said.

Dr Falvey also defended the Lions’ concussion protocol work during the tour.

England prop Joe Marler, pictured, and lock Courtney Lawes clashed heads in the Lions’ 34-6 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton last month. Lawes underwent and passed a pitchside head injury assessment (HIA), and returned to action.  Marler played on, but Dr Falvey revealed the Lions spotted in footage the next day something they felt worthy of further assessment.

“All the HIA management is a collaborative event now. I’m not making a decision on my own about that any more,” Dr Falvey said. “One of our medical team sits in the box as a spotter. He has the broadcast feed and he can rewind that. I also have access to a system where I have 12 views to look at any impact and decide whether it meets the criteria for permanent removal.

“Added to that, there are three independent doctors reviewing that and watching the game themselves.

“We made a conscious decision that the independent doctor would do all the HIAs. We then remove any implication at all that we’d be favouring a player to go back on.

“Players have to look after themselves. But even with all that, things get missed.

“Joe Marler, for example, in the Chiefs match. Joe at the time was okay, and the doctors were quite happy with him staying on. The next day when we reviewed our own video, we saw Joe had actually gotten up and fallen to the ground. So that fulfils the criteria for removal. So then we moved Joe through a gradual return to play.”