RU Today: Lions & Prem agreement, Mike Blair to lead Scots

David Skippers
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Another busy day in the rugby union game as we cover an agreement reached between the Premiership and the British & Irish Lions over the release of players as well as all the other major news.

What’s on the site

Premiership Rugby and the Lions have confirmed that they have come to a consensus that all players will be released at the conclusion of their domestic commitments for the Lions’ warm-up game against Japan at Murrayfield in June.

We also cover a story on Mike Blair, who has been appointed as Scotland’s interim head coach for their summer tour including internationals against Romania and Georgia.

Meanwhile, Leinster were dealt a setback ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle after it was revealed that their captain and fly-half Johnny Sexton will miss that match due to a head knock.

What’s in the news

Wasps and England second-row Joe Launchbury’s hopes of being picked for the Lions tour to South Africa have been dashed after it was confirmed that he sustained an anterior cruciate knee ligament tear.

Elsewhere, Western Force centre Tevita Kuridrani will miss his side’s Super Rugby AU semi-final against the Brumbies on Saturday after he was suspended for three weeks for a tip tackle in his side’s clash with the Reds.

What’s on social media

It’s Freedom Day in South Africa today and to celebrate it here are 10 of the Springboks’ best Rugby World Cup tries.

What’s on TV

The focus this week shifts to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals as Toulouse face Bordeaux-Begles and La Rochelle take on Leinster in the top tier while Leicester Tigers meet Ulster and Bath clash with Montpellier. All the games are on BT Sport.

Super Aotearoa continues while in Super AU the Brumbies face the Western Force, with that semi-final streamed live on the World Rugby website.

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