British and Irish Lions

Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards has rounded on players who publicly criticise head coach Brian Ashton - insisting they should not play for their country again.

Following his side's 10-8 victory over London Irish in Group C of the EDF Energy Cup, former international Richards spoke out over the comments directed at Ashton from Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt in serialisations of their books in Sunday newspapers.

Richards explained: "I find it very disturbing that players are coming out and slating Brian.

"I think it's absolutely disgraceful. These guys should never play for England again.

"Everybody has reasons on occasion to criticise coaches but the unwritten rule in rugby is that you don't criticise each other in the press. It's an absolute disgrace.

"You've got a coach who's taken you into the World Cup final and there may have been a certain amount of discord, but you'd have taken that this time last year."

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.