British and Irish Lions

Reports in a South African newspaper at the weekend claimed there had been a plot involving an official and a player who had threatened to release damaging material about the coach if the player was ever dropped from the Bok squad.
However, SARU gave their side of the story in a statement issued on Saturday.
"Peter de Villiers and the South African Rugby Union categorically deny that there have ever been any attempts to blackmail or coerce him over the selection of any player to the national squad, as alleged in a report that appeared in Saturday's Weekender newspaper," the statement said.
"However, SARU can confirm that a company employee did approach Mr de Villiers on 15 August in Cape Town. The employee made certain extraordinary claims which SARU has since looked into but has been unable to find any basis to support in fact.
"The employee was advised on 25 August that he would be called to an internal misconduct hearing, the charge sheet for which is still being prepared."

Having become only the ninth Welshman to pick up a Heineken Cup winners medal, Gethin Jenkins is now getting ready for his next challenge - holding on to his British & Irish Lions Test spot.

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.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.