Woodward wants Six Nations stars

Players not playing in the 2005 RBS 6 Nations Championship will have to have a “compelling reason” to force themselves into the reckoning for next June’s Lions’ tour to New Zealand.

Speaking in Dublin, Lions coach Clive Woodward once again distanced himself from the rumours linking former England internationals Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio with a Lions return in 2005 – stating: “I want to fundamentally pick players who are available for international rugby.”