British and Irish Lions

Rob Howley has paid tribute to his former British & Irish Lions team-mate Scott Quinnell, who has been forced to retire from competitive rugby with a hand injury.

The pair toured with the Lions in 1997 and 2001 and lined up together on many occasions for Wales before both quitting the sport this season.

"It is a bit ironic how our careers have parallelled," Howley told the South Wales Echo. "But as a forward it is much harder to be at the top of your game than a back.

"Even though he was a marked man for Wales and the British Lions he still managed to go forward. He was a superb rugby player and took a lot of hits over the last years.

"Scott's body has said 'enough is enough' and I wish him all the best in whatever he does in the future."

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.