Rugby union: No let-up for England's Tigers

DEAN RICHARDS, the Leicester coach, has vowed to field a full- strength side for the Scottish Amicable Cup game against the Barbarians at Twickenham on 23 May.

That means the Tigers' nine Australia-bound tourists - Tim Stimpson, Leon Lloyd, Austin Healey, Graham Rowntree, Richard Cockerill, Darren Garforth, Martin Johnson, Martin Corry and Neil Back - will play barely 72 hours before England fly Down Under for this summer's World Cup training camp.

"The Barbarians have picked a star-studded line-up, and we want to finish off the season on a high," said Richards.

"The Barbarians may ] able to boast more than 600 caps but the Tigers have almost 300 themselves, and we intend to give them more than just a run for their money."

The Barbarians, coached by Bob Dwyer, Leicester's former rugby director, have further strengthened their squad. The latest additions include the New Zealand centres Walter Little and Frank Bunce, and the props Os du Randt, of South Africa, and England's Victor Ubogu.

Brian O'Meara, the Cork Constitution scrum-half, has been ruled out of Ireland's forthcoming four-match tour to Australia because of a broken thumb. O'Meara's place has gone to Tom Tierney, of Garryowen, and the Cork man's enforced absence leaves Ireland very vulnerable and inexperienced in a key position.

Ciaran Scally, who will now be the senior scrum-half, has made only three full appearances for Ireland, two of them as a replacement against Georgia and Scotland this season.