British Lions could lose their roar
Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:26
A new agreement between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Premiership rugby clubs in England could see the British and Irish Lions tour to South-Africa next year watered down because the tour could start without many of the Lions' English players.
The RFU and the clubs have agreed that, under the agreement that becomes effective from July 1 this year, the clubs will have the first call on their players at the time the Lions leave on their South African tour.
The Telegraph newspaper reports that as many as the first three Lions tour matches could be missed by some English players, who will only join up with the team after the Premiership play-off Final on May 31.
The previously leaked tour itinerary sees the Lions play their first match against a Highveld XV on May 30 - and although the tour itinerary could be changed, the dates will remain as previously published, with the tour starting on May 30 and the last tour match, a Test, on July 4.
A further problem is that the Premiership players must have a five-day gap between matches, according to the agreement.
The original tour schedule includes three midweek games in the first three weeks. If that schedule is retained it will make it a difficult balancing act to select optimal sides during that period of seven matches.
"The Lions tour does throw up a problem around that specific clause," admitted Damian Hopley, chief executive of the Players' Association according to the Telegraph.
It is believed that the RFU are in negotiations with the European Rugby Cup to try and convince them to swap the 2009 Heineken Cup Final date with that of the Premiership, which is scheduled for a week later.
The rationale is that less English players are expected to be affected by the Heineken Cup Final.
The exclusion of English players for the first part of the tour, because of the five-day rule, could seriously hamper their chances of Test selection.
