British and Irish Lions

The London Wasps flanker, who toured South Africa with Ian McGeechan's Lions earlier this summer, has spoken out following the high-profile 'Bloodgate' saga involving Guinness Premiership rivals Harlequins.

Worsley was reacting to suggestions that other professional clubs may also have faked blood injuries in order to make otherwise illegal substitutions - something the England international firmly disputes.

"I am actually annoyed by people from Harlequins suggesting that other teams are cheating," Worsley told the BBC.
"They are not. Full stop. They are not. It would be madness to do it."

Fresh from his six appearances for the 2009 Lions, which included the heroic third Test victory over the Springboks, Worsely does not believe the problems highlighted by the Quins controversy are endemic with the game in England or anywhere else in the world.

And with Harlequins being heavily fined, Tom Williams facing a four-month suspension and former director of rugby Dean Richards having been banned from the sport for three years, Worsley says other clubs are unlikely to start attempting to cheat in a similar fashion this season.

"If they thought about the tiny gains they could make by doing what they did compared to the drastic consequences it's a no-brainer," added Worsley.

"You just wouldn't do it. Now people have seen the consequences, I'm sure no-one is going to risk doing it."

The Lions of Leicester and Leinster will bring domestic bragging rights with them to tomorrow's farewell dinner after they helped their respective sides to league titles on Saturday.

Assistant coach Graham Rowntree says The British & Irish Lions will have to be fully focussed to avoid a potential banana skin when they face The Barbarians a week today.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.