Joe Schmidt rejects Lions demands to release Australia stars for tour games

Wallabies coach says agreement is not to release all players.

RESPONSE: Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies have a warm-up Test against Fiji on 6 July, the day after the British & Irish Lions play the Waratahs. Pic:AP Photo/Rick Rycroft

The Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has hit back at the British and Irish Lions management, insisting Australia are adhering to the tour agreement regarding the release of international players for pre-Test games and that his front-line home players were only unavailable because they were preparing to face Fiji on Sunday week.

The issue has flared up again this week after the Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, said he expected Schmidt to release Wallaby players back to their Super Rugby franchises for their respective games against the touring team. Some fringe Wallabies are due to feature for Western Force this Saturday but it is set to be a different story for the subsequent games against the Reds, the Waratahs and the Brumbies.