There was a ray of sunshine for the Lions this week when their preparations for the 2025 tour of Australia were given a boost.
It came with the announcement that the URC had finally been joined by the Premiership in bringing its final forward a week to give the Lions a modicum of preparation time before their departure.

Premiership intransigence on fixture schedules has been an obstacle for the Lions for almost 25 years, but at least they have finally seen the light. Before the 2017 and 2021 Lions tours the Premiership insisted on scheduling its final on the weekend before the opening tour...