England stars to boost top flight

SOME big-name Lions players will return to Premiership action ahead of schedule after player power forced a review of England’s one-size-fitsall rest period.

A group of the tourists have challenged the mandatory 10-week stand-down time, on the basis that members of England’s Elite Player Squad such as Jamie George and Jonny Hill, who did not play a single minute of the Test series in South Africa, are currently scheduled to go almost three months without a game.

The Gain Line understands the situation is being reviewed on a case-by-case basis and expects a group of players to return to club action next week. Marcus Smith, a late replacement on the Lions tour who did not feature in the Tests, has already been cleared to come back for Harlequins on October 8, 10 days before the other Lions.