Money matters

The participants in this season's Six Nations Championship will be doing their utmost to cobble together Grand Slams and Triple Crowns etc, and will be at pains to point out it is all for the honour and pride of the country. However, as in all professional sport, there is a money angle. The winners of this season's Six Nations Championship will receive u £165,000, the second-placed country, £105,000 and third placed £70,000.

And on the topic of money, an English rugby magazine reported the Lions will pocket u £25,000 per man if they can whitewash the world Champions Australia during the summer. The 37 man squad will receive a guaranteed sum of u £15,000 each and thereafter there is a sliding scale of bonuses depending on the number of games won. The wage bill is expected to go through the u £1 million barrier.

It is expected a 65-man preliminary Lions squad will be announced within the next fortnight. Those not named can still make the touring party. It is simply to allow the players and their representatives sort out contract issues, money and sundry other considerations.