Lenihan favourite to be next Lions manager

Donal Lenihan has emerged as favourite to become the next British and Irish Lions manager for the tour of Australia in 2001. The former Irish and Lions' lock was interviewed for the post along with his Welsh and English counterparts, Derek Quinnell and Roger Uttley, in London earlier this week.

Roger Pickering, secretary of the Lions' tour committee, has admitted: "after preparing a short-list we have completed our interviews and an offer to manage the Lions will be made in the next few days."

However, sources within the four Home Unions have revealed that Lenihan is a strong frontrunner for the position, one of them admitting privately: "I'm sure it's going to be Donal."

An announcement confirming that Lenihan is set to emulate the last Irishman to manage the Lions, Willie John McBride in 1983, is expected imminently. McBride took charge of the team that Ciaran Fitzgerald captained to New Zealand.

Meanwhile, although their appeal against European Rugby Cup's decision to merely fine Stade Francais £5,000 for fielding an ineligible player is unlikely to succeed, thereby preventing the French side from being evicted from the European Cup before their proposed quarterfinal with Munster, Leinster could still have an alternative avenue into next season's competition.

As things stand, that would depend on Munster reaching the semi-finals, and so earning Ireland a third qualifier in next season's European Cup, but all the competing Unions bar the French have been very receptive to an ERC proposal that the competition remain at 24 clubs rather than be trimmed down to 20. The ERC board will meet in Dublin on February 24th to discuss next season's format.