Lions may strike deal for Top 14 stars – Farrell

The British and Irish Lions may negotiate with top French clubs for early release of players for this summer's tour of Australia.

Blair Kinghorn, Jack Willis, Ben White and Kyle Sinckler are among the potential tourists in contention to play in the Top 14 play-offs that clash with the start of the Lions' itinerary.

"Maybe a team in France might be open to a conversation about letting people go early," said Lions head coach Andy Farrell to Rugby Union Weekly, adding that there was no set Lions policy on France-based players.

"If someone gets through to the final in France, they would probably get to us for game three [of the Australian leg of the tour]. How that all fits is something we will carry on discussing."

The Top 14 final – the climax of French rugby's domestic season – takes place on 28 June in Paris.

On the same day, on the opposite side of the world, the Lions play Perth's Western Force in their first match on Australian soil.

With travel and jetlag, it is unlikely any player involved in the Top 14 final would turn out for the Lions before their match against the Waratahs on 5 July, just a fortnight before the first Test against Australia.

Toulouse – who have played in four of the last five Top 14 finals and lead this season's standings – have Scotland's versatile star Kinghorn and flanker Willis among their squad.

Willis has shone since moving to France in late 2022. However his decision to extend his contract with Toulouse, rather than return home in the aftermath of former club Wasps going bust, means he is currently ineligible for England selection and hasn't played Test rugby since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

There is precedent for the Lions negotiating the early release of players from French clubs.

In 2013, Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins, whose contract was coming to an end with Toulon, was cleared to link up Warren Gatland's Lions before they left for Australia.

However, French sides have recently been highly protective of their talent, striking a deal to excuse players involved in the Top 14 final from the national team's summer tour of New Zealand.

After two months out of action through injury, Owen Farrell made his return in Racing 92's away win over Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

The 33-year-old fly-half, a three-time Lions tourist with 112 England caps, could be available immediately after the final round of regular-season Top 14 games on 7 June as Racing lie 12th in the table, facing an uphill battle for a play-offs spot.

Farrell's ability to play as a centre would be an asset, but he faces stiff competition at 10 where Scotland's Finn Russell, England's Fin Smith and George Ford and Ireland duo Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley are all specialists.

Head coach Farrell said that there are as many as six players in contention for the Lions captaincy, with the skipper not learning of his appointment until shortly before the squad's announcement on 8 May.

"There are maybe four, five, six on the list," he said.

"When you narrow it down - this is the right number to fit the schedule and what you need and which hybrid players can play in different positions – then you consider who are the leaders within that, what are the dynamics of a leadership group and who is going to be capable of being themselves and comfortable in and around all that.

"It takes a little bit of a process, rather than diving straight in."

Ireland captain Caelan Doris, England skipper Maro Itoje and Wales counterpart Jac Morgan are all contenders.

Farrell also confirmed that his coaching staff are still to decide their individual responsibilities.

He unveiled Simon Easterby, Richard Wigglesworth, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty as his assistants earlier on Wednesday.

Wigglesworth and Goodman oversee England and Ireland's attack respectively.

"The conversations have started and the next time we meet, we will start piecing the jigsaw together," said Farrell, who did not rule out adding more staff to his coaching ranks.