Premiership threat rocks Gatland plans

➤League may not release its players for Lions training camp ➤Coach warns 20 could miss tour over compensation row

Warren Gatland has warned that England players could miss out on the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, after Premiership Rugby threatened to block the release of players for a training camp.

The Lions head coach was already resigned to players involved in the Premiership play-offs being absent from his side’s two-week training camp in Jersey. Premiership Rugby had refused to bring forward its final from June 26 – the same day as the Lions’ opening warm-up match against Japan in Edinburgh.

But Gatland last night claimed Premiership Rugby wanted to block the release of players from all 12 of its teams until after the final. Gatland estimates that up to 20 players could be affected, including all of England’s Premiership contingent as well as Scotland and Wales players such as Stuart Hogg and Taulupe Faletau.

Saracens, as Premiership shareholders, are also likely to be affected despite being in the Championship.

Gatland also suggested that his plans could be subjected to the “huge possibility” of players withdrawing from the tour because of Covid-19 or quarantine fears.

Speaking at the unveiling of his team of assistant coaches of Gregor

Townsend, Steve Tandy, Robin Mcbryde and Neil Jenkins, Gatland admitted the unavailability of those players for the initial training camp would compromise their chances of going to South Africa.

“We are looking at going to Jersey for a two-week camp so the last thing I’d want is for players to miss out on the tour because of [not being available for] that,” Gatland said. “I’m hoping we can get some resolution and common sense will prevail, so we don’t have to start looking at 50-50 calls on players and thinking:

‘Well, he’s based in England so he’s not going to be available.’ ”

Under World Rugby regulations, Premiership Rugby is not obliged to release players until the international window opens following the Twickenham final. Premiership Rugby’s intransigence is thought to be related to the amount of compensation it receives.

“The Lions have always compensated clubs for the release of players – something they didn’t really have to do because the regulations allow for release on a certain date,” Gatland said. “What we are asking for is can they be released a little bit earlier, when they’ve finished their club campaign.”