All Blacks in threat to pull out of tours

ENGLAND’S autumn international programme and summer tours to the southern hemisphere would be under threat if pressure from clubs ended future British and Irish Lions tours. The warning came from Steve Tew, chief executive officer of New Zealand Rugby, who said existing agreements between the home nations and the southern hemisphere countries were wholly dependent on the continuance of the Lions. Tew said: ‘The fact is when the northern hemisphere comes to us in July, versus when we go north in November, there is an imbalance — but the revenue we bring in when the Lions tour comes around goes some way to even that out. ‘We made it very clear that if the Lions situation changes, the whole thing is at an end. They’re very aware of that. That’s not a threat — that’s just a practical reality.’ The Lions concept has recently come under pressure from Premiership executives, who