Lions hope to avoid fixture clash

BRITISH and Irish Lions chiefs are confident a potentially embarrassing clash of fixtures that could affect the start of the 2009 tour to South Africa will be resolved.

The opening match of the tour is against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg on May 30 — the same day the Guinness Premiership final is scheduled to be staged at Twickenham.

Ian McGeechan was yesterday confirmed as Lions head coach, rendering the Wasps director of rugby unavailable for the domestic showpiece should the London club be involved. But Lions chairman Andy Irvine is convinced there’ll be agreement.

“Obviously it’s a concern for us but I think that common sense will prevail,” he said. “I’m very much in the optimists’ camp that a solution will be found. We were asked to bring the tour forward by one week by the RFU. It wasn’t particularly easy to do. We had to get co-operation from the South Africans but we did so in good faith and we’re surprised to learn of the clash of fixtures.

“But it’s not rocket science to work it out. I think you could hold a round of Premiership matches between Christmas and New Year and that would allow the final to be brought forward by two weeks.

“There is a slight possibility of the schedule remaining and if it does then Ian’s priority would be with the Lions,” he said.