Lions tour agreement risks being broken as Brit bosses put their foot down | Rugby | Sport

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has caused a stir by withholding two players from the British and Irish Lions‘ warm-up match against the Western Force. The tourists will play a number of games against Super Rugby franchises as they prepare to face the Wallabies. However, the absences of two Force players could represent a breach of their pre-tour agreement.

Schmidt has indicated that he is ‘very keen to safeguard’ his leading 25 players heading into the series against the Lions. The pre-tour agreement with Rugby Australia stipulates that Super Rugby teams must be at full strength for the warm-up fixtures. As a result, the Wallabies are obliged to release players to represent their clubs in those matches.

Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson, however, have been withheld from the Force squad for this weekend’s match. Lions chief executive Ben Calveley responded by issuing a public reminder for Australia to fulfil the terms of their agreement.

“We’ll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that’s what we’re looking for,” Calveley told The Telegraph. “We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to that Test series against the Wallabies.

“The agreement is very clear. It says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation. It’s really important that these games are competitive.

“It’s not just from a performance standpoint. The players do want to test themselves and build towards the Test series, but it’s also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters who are all expecting competitive fixtures and for the rugby loving public.”

Calveley’s warning was echoed by Lions chair and former Wales wing Ieuan Evans, who said: “I think what’s clear is that we are an elite sporting touring team and we need to be challenged and tested in our preparations towards the Tests.”

During the tour of South Africa four years ago, the hosts were unable to release any of their players due to Covid restrictions, but Australia do not have that excuse.

“Last time around, although it was baked into the agreement, that had to all be slightly changed because of Covid,” added Calveley.

“You couldn’t have players coming out of one camp, the Springboks camp, and then into the Sharks or whoever it might have been, and then back into the Springbok camp.

“You saw the impact of that with the competitive nature of some of those games leading into the Test series, they could have been slightly tighter. We’ll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with Phil Waugh and their executive team.

“We are encouraged that we’ll see a strong side competing at the Optus. We’re clear that in the agreement it says that Test players do have to be released. We’ll move into the game at the weekend and what comes after that we’ll deal with in time.”