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'They haven't always been the easiest to deal with': Gatland fears Premiership threat could cost English-based players Lions places

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Lions coach Warren Gatland has described dealing with the English Premiership clubs about player release as being akin to the European Union negotiating with the UK Government over Brexit. The 2021 Lions tour will kick-off in South Africa on July 3 against the Stormers in Cape Town.

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However, Gatland has organised a week’s training preparation in Wales and a matchweek versus Japan in Edinburgh that all Premiership club players will be unavailable for even if their teams are not involved in the June 26 league final at Twickenham.

Under World Rugby regulation nine, the Premiership clubs are within their rights to withhold its players. This not only would include the likes of say England international Kyle Sinckler at Bristol. They would also be able to prevent players such as Wales out-half Dan Biggar and Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg joining up respectively from Northampton and Exeter.

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    It’s a tricky situation with the Premiership and Gatland has warned it could ultimately decide a 50/50 call against an English-based player who can’t hook up with the Lions for the two weeks prior to their departure for South Africa. He is hoping common sense can help an agreement to be reached regarding player availability.

    Speaking over a Zoom call from New Zealand after the Lions launched their 2021 Canterbury tour jersey, Gatland said: “They [Premiership Rugby] haven’t always been the easiest to deal with. They have their own ways of doing things.

    “Look, at the moment nothing is set in stone. They have come out and made a statement so it’s a little bit like Brexit, it’s a bit of a game where hopefully we can end up with a deal that is satisfactory for all. That is kind of what I am hoping.

    “At the moment I don’t think it’s worth firing shots at each other and hopefully we can come to some agreement. Hopefully, the players association and the players might voice their opinion about what they think about that.

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    “That is a pretty powerful voice to be heard from the players and about their opportunities going on the Lions tour and having the best chance and the best preparation to go and tour. It’s a little bit frustrating at the moment but I’m just very hopeful that we can come together and make those players that aren’t available who are not playing in the final to have the best chance and the best preparation to put themselves in the shop window to go to South Africa and give themselves the best chance of playing potentially in the Test matches.

    “Some negotiations that will go on between now and then. We just have to look at it. Potentially if England have a great Six Nations you could argue that a third to half of the squad could potentially be missing, not just for that Japan game but we’re planning a camp in Wales the week before. That would be disruptive.

    “Given how limited the time is in preparation, we will be taking the best team we possibly can, the best players, but the hard reality of the situation is that I just hope it doesn’t impact on any players or any selections because you end up with a 50/50 call on a player and a player that is able to be there for the week’s camp in Wales and the week’s preparation for the Japan game might get the nod against someone who is unfortunately not available until only one week before the first match in South Africa.

    “It’s a challenge at the moment and I just hope some common sense will prevail and some negotiations. I fully understand with the Premiership final players not being available because they are tied up with that, but I would love to see players being released for the Lions.

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    “We get full support from club coaches because they way I look at it is a player goes away on a Lions tour and it’s successful, the amount of interest it creates just outside the general rugby following from other supporters and other people from other sports, you potentially can come back as a superstar.

    “Then you can promote that when you start the following season, come along and see your Lions players at your local club and generate more interest. I just hope we can come to some agreement where we do have access to the players.”

    – Warren Gatland was speaking on behalf of Canterbury at the launch of the British and Irish Lions Pro jersey,  available at Canterbury.com

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    P
    PL 56 minutes ago
    Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

    I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

    Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


    Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


    The officiating of last feet is non existent

    The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

    A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


    Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

    Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


    About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

    Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


    The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


    I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


    The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

    Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

    Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

    My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


    Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


    Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

    Last feet to last feet + 1 m


    When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


    As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


    Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

    25 were scrum for dissent


    Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


    All the s.ite would disappear


    The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


    Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

    1 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 2 hours ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

    His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

    But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

    And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


    I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

    For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

    But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


    As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

    Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


    And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

    So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

    France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

    237 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 2 hours ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

    But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

    He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

    Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

    He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

    He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


    I really hope that:

    -Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

    -Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

    -Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

    237 Go to comments
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