British and Irish Lions

Mike Ruddock has ended speculation that he could follow Steve Hansen as Wales coach by announcing he has not applied for the position and pledging his immediate future to Gwent Dragons.

But the Dragons supremo has not ruled out the possibility of him bidding for the job at a later date.

Ruddock was one of the favourites to take over from Hansen who will leave the post at the end of the RBS 6 Nations championship in the spring.

Despite the off-field problems which have dogged the Dragons, the team have exceeded expectations on the field.

Ruddock said: "I am really enjoying being part of the Dragons and the way the squad has pulled together during our off-field problems has had a big bearing on my decision not to apply for the Welsh coaching position.

"The Dragons team and coaching staff have put their heads down and got on with the job in hand doing their talking on the field. The adversity we faced off-field has created a special bond between the Dragons squad and the management team. This bond would be particularly difficult to break at this time."

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.

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.