Warren Gatland’s warning to latecomers

Warren Gatland has warned that Munster’s three tourists will be among a wider group of players to find themselves at a disadvantage when they finally put club duties to bed and link up with his Lions.

CJ Stander, Peter O’Mahony, and Conor Murray have a PRO12 final before they don a different shade of red. Likewise Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams, who feature for Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Ken Owens, their club captain, was already in Lions camp yesterday however. The hooker missed the semi-final win against Leinster with a shoulder problem and it was confirmed yesterday that he will sit out the final too.

Meanwhile, the trio of James Haskell, Elliot Daly, and Jack Nowell will be busy with the Aviva Premiership decider between Exeter and Wasps, while Northampton’s Courtney Lawes and George North face a Champions Cup play-off with Stade Francais.