Two star Lions likely to miss tour opener

Two leading Lions players could be missing from the start of the DHL tour here.

Welshmen Stephen Jones and Gareth Thomas both ply their club trade in France, with the French club title not decided until early June.

Jones' club is pretty much out of the running, but Thomas plays for the powerful Toulouse club.

Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward is pretty much resigned to losing both players for the first tour game, if not longer, saying that if they miss the first week or so, then so be it.

Sir Clive says professional rugby has moved on, and rather than working against the clubs, he is working in with them, especially given the improvement shown by both players since they headed to France, with the Toulouse shift working wonders for Thomas.

Sir Clive believes the tour to New Zealand is all about the tests, so they need to speak to the two French clubs, and he is sure commonsense will prevail.

The Lions have just completed a two day camp.

They reassemble on May 17, play Argentina on May 23rd in Cardiff, and then board the plane.

Jones and Thomas are set to miss the Argentina game, and possibly the first tour game against Bay of Plenty on June 4th.

- NEWSTALK ZB