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Contract chiller as Schmidt hits out at Lions call
Birmingham Mail
|June 25, 2025
AUSTRALIA head coach Joe Schmidt has hit back at the British and Irish Lions over their warning he is contractually obliged to release his stars to their Super Rugby franchises throughout the tour.
Lions chief executive Ben Calveley on Monday called for all Wallabies to be allowed to represent the Western Force, Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies in the build-up to the Test series, stating their involvement is part of the tour agreement.
Head coach Andy Farrell wants his squad to be battle-hardened by the time international hostilities commence on July 19, but Schmidt has said he will ring-fence a core of 25 players for the warm-up game against Fiji on July 6 to ensure they avoid injury.
This story is from the June 25, 2025 edition of Birmingham Mail.
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