Lions eager to get back in the action

South Africa tourists could play in tomorrow’s West Country derby if officials allow it

BRITISH and Irish Lions players who were part of the South Africa summer tour could feature in tomorrow night’s Gallagher Premiership West Country derby between Bristol Bears and Bath.

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam, might have England prop Kyle Sinckler available, while his Bath counterpart Stuart Hooper could be able to select Anthony Watson.

A 10-week rest period has been in place for England’s Lions that expires in mid-October. However, it is understood that some of those are keen to return to action now.

Premiership clubs must apply to a Professional Game Board sub-committee - the Player Performance Management Group - that has to agree any variation to individual player release.

In terms of England squad players, that application must contain supporting evidence from the player, club rugby director and England head coach Eddie Jones.

Both Bristol and Bath have lost their their opening Premiership games this season, but ahead of tomorrow’s West country derby at Ashton Gate both clubs’ directors of rugby were keen to stress it was players leading calls for an early return.

Lam said: “The Lions players have requested themselves. They want to get back playing, across the board. It’s all driven by each player - each player makes that decision themselves. What we’ll never do is tell a player he has got to come back and play. It’s up to that player.

“Kyle’s one of them who has requested he wants to play, and then it goes to the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and then ourselves. A lot of them (Lions players) are back training, and probably like me, they hate training if they are not playing.

“Again, you have to sign it off with the players’ association, because it’s their union, and the one thing I’d never do is force anyone to play any rugby if he doesn’t want to play or he needs to rest.”

Bath had two players away with the Lions this summer - Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau and England winger/full back Anthony Watson. Faletau is now technically free to play for his club having had a fiveweek break but Watson, under English rules, is still unavailable as per the agreement between the RFU, RPA (Rugby Players Association) and Premiership Rugby, and cannot play again until October 18. But the 27-year-old has been training since early September and this week Watson linked up with England again in a four-day camp ahead of the Autumn internationals.

Hooper said: “We’re in discussions as these guys want to play, get back out. What’s quite important is that of course player welfare is paramount, but part of their welfare is playing rugby as it’s what they love to do and prepare themselves for.”

Despite there being no agreement in place preventing Bath from picking Welsh star Faletau now, Hooper says he is not rushing the number eight back into club service.

He said: “We need to give him a good break and then re-condition him to get him up to speed.”