Boyd: Youngs link is nothing to do with us 

As far as transfer denials go, Northampton coach Chris Boyd could not have been much stronger in shooting down links with Ben Youngs.

Boyd said on Saturday night: 'I can tell you in the criteria of recruitment for us, Ben Youngs only fulfils one criteria, which is that he is English. I have never spoken to Ben Youngs in my life and we have absolutely no interest in Ben Youngs at Northampton Saints. Is that reasonably clear?

'We are looking for young guys with potential. Ben Youngs has been wonderful for Leicester and for England. That's his club.

'I am not interested in recruiting a 30-year-old from another club in England. It is not where we are going. You can put that one to bed.

'It is probably his agent looking for another 100k. Nothing to do with us.' 

Youngs is one of 17 players out of contract at the struggling East Midlands club next summer.

Harlequins are in the market for injury dispensation cover for Mike Brown and Scott Baldwin but have missed out on one target. Both players have been ruled out for the majority of the season but the club have already had a loan approach for Sale hooker Cameron Neild turned down.

Quins coach Paul Gustard told the Gain Line: 'It's close to Super Rugby season so those players aren't necessarily available.'

Sale Sharks are hoping to tie up a new deal with a kit supplier as their contract with Samurai is up at the end of the season.

Samurai are keen to renew, but there is also interest from Nike, adidas, Castore, VX3 and O'Neills. The emergence of Faf de Klerk and Tom Curry as posterboys of the World Cup in Japan has generated extra interest in the club.  

Women's Lions will happen

The British and Irish Lions are determined to get a women's version of the men's tours underway.

England captain Sarah Hunter championed the cause last year and she has received back up from the administrators.

Ben Calveley, Lions managing director, said: 'Women's sport generally is on a crest of a wave. We have had fantastic times with the Women's Football World Cup and the Women's Rugby World Cup so it is no different.

'Will there be a women's Lions? Yes, there will but we can't say when. It is when, not if.'

Lampard Quins move!

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has invited Paul Gustard to a training session in Cobham.

The two players turned coaches have been in regular contact since they met in October, when Lampard went to Quins training.

Gustard said: 'He texted me when he was on holiday a couple of weeks ago. We're two young head coaches going through similar experiences and he is only five miles away. I'm going to visit in the next couple of weeks.'

The Lions have not ruled out a stopover in Japan ahead of their trip to Australia in 2025. The tourists are keen to build on the momentum of the recent World Cup.

Managing director Ben Calveley said: 'Japan had a wonderful World Cup and hosted it phenomenally well. We need to grow and develop on that upward trajectory we have seen in the past.'