Clive's expensive taste

Clive Woodward faces a battle to convince Lions chiefs he needs a costly three-man team of spin doctors, headed by Alistair Campbell, for next summer's tour to New Zealand.

Standard Sport understands that while Woodward and the former Downing Street director of communications Campbell have spoken on a regular basis, the head coach has yet to put the plan before the Lions committee, which is paying the bills for the most expensive tour ever.

Lions sources suggest that Campbell, if he gets the job, would be "unlikely" to tour himself. He would head the media team but two of his colleagues would manage the day-to-day media affairs.