REFEREES for the Lions Test series against South Africa this summer will come from neutral countries, the International Rugby Board confirmed yesterday.

Referees for the British and Irish Lions Test series against South Africa this summer will come from neutral countries, the International Rugby Board confirmed this afternoon.

FULLBACK Federico Serra scored 19 points as Argentina beat Italy 24-6 in Mendoza on Saturday in their final home test before the World Cup.

RELATIONS between the IRFU and ARU have slumped after Ireland’s kickers were denied access to the Estadio Jose Amalfitani, home to Argentine soccer club Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires yesterday.

FOR Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls, Saturday’s first test against Argentina was a throw-back to Lions tours of a bygone era when teams were banished to various backwaters to promote the game and have their physical prowess tested by hostile natives both on and off the field.

CHRIS WHITE, who was involved in the controversial conclusion to the Italy-Wales clash during this season’s Six Nations, will referee Ireland’s Rugby World Cup game against hosts France on September 21.

WALES forward Ryan Jones has been summoned to join the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand amid growing concerns over Simon Taylor’s fitness.

Clive Woodward launched his first media campaign of the tour just a day before the Lions face their biggest challenge yet by calling for touch-judges to stop interfering in the referee’s business.