Lions squad will be picked on merit, says manager Beaumont

BRITISH and Irish Lions manager Bill Beaumont is adamant coach Clive Woodward will pick his squad based on merit rather than nationality.

England boss Woodward will lead the Lions to New Zealand in 2005 but there have been fears of English domination.

But Beaumont said: "People have talked about the Lions being an English Lions team.

"Clive will pick the best players and they'll be the Lions team. That's the way it has to be."

England's famous World Cup win in Australia last November and their dominance in last year's Six Nations Championship suggested that the Lions party traditionally made up of players from all four home unions would comprise mainly Englishmen.

But Beaumont's argument was furthered by England's shock 19-13 defeat to Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

And he stressed that players from Scotland, Wales or Ireland would not be selected purely to balance the nationalities.

The former Lions lock added: "The players know who's best. They'll know if he's picked them to make up the numbers from any given nation. The guys aren't stupid.

"When I played it was mainly Welshmen in the side. The thing goes in waves.

"You can't worry about there being too many from one nation. You just pick the best players and get on with trying to win in New Zealand."

Meanwhile, England's Austin Healey could make his comeback on Saturday after being named in Leicester's 25-man squad for the Travis Perkins and Bradstone East Midlands Challenge clash with Northampton.

Healey has been sidelined for the last two months with and ankle injury but should play some part in the derby showdown at Franklin's Gardens, which will also feature five of the Tigers' England World Cup stars.

Prop Graham Rowntree and hooker Dorian West are primed for a return to the front row while Martin Corry and Geordan Murphy who has been recalled to the Ireland squad are also available.