LEICESTER Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick has held talks with the Lions about becoming Warren Gatland's forwards coach in South Africa.
The Tigers will probably be happy now that the Lions tour is likely to be postponed for another year as Borthwick could have been away for the first five weeks of preseason.
Blindside understands the Tigers would have been powerless to stop Borthwick from taking the job as part of the agreement that saw him move to the club.
He would be permitted to go on the tour without first seeking approval from the Tigers board who are already a couple of coaches short.
Kiwi flyer Elijah Niko wings in at Blues
BEDFORD have agreed to sign former Yorkshire Carnegie and Ealing Trailfinders winger Elijah Niko.
Niko, 30, who was born in Wellington, New Zealand played in the NRL for New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne Storm before switching codes.
The former Australian Sevens international, above right, played in France for Section Paloise, Albi and Beziers before moving to Yorkshire.
He left Ealing because of visa issues, but they have been resolved and he will link up with the Blues before the new season kicks off.
NEIL FISSLER
