Easterby frowns on Lions warm-up

Leinster manager Guy Easterby says the province would not look kindly on any attempts by the Lions to hold a mini-training camp next May prior to the tourists’ departure for Hong Kong and Australia.

Lions coach Warren Gatland floated the possibility of such a get-together at his unveiling in London last month but it’s timing – two weeks prior to the Heineken Cup finals and three before the PRO12 and Premiership finals – is hardly ideal.

Leinster had five players on the 2009 tour to South Africa and that number is almost certain to be greater next summer, particularly if the province is once again challenging on two fronts at the sharp end of the season.

“I haven’t heard that,” said Easterby of the proposed training camp. “It wouldn’t be ideal, would it, if you are in the mix for those finals and they are taking five or six key members of your squad off for a couple of days.”

Gatland has already been given short shrift in his attempts to secure the early release of some French-based players with Bernard Laporte, coach of Toulon, remaining adamant that the club would not release Gethin Jenkins in time for the start of the tour.