Lions locking lips to avoid fines

Geordan Murphy

The Lions have invented a novel way to keep players' behaviour in line at training on their rugby tour, one which is bringing the players closer together than ever before.

Writing a column for The Guardian newspaper, Irish fullback Geordan Murphy revealed that some intimate moments between players have been played out to avoid paying fines.

"If there is any perceived niggle in training, we've now instigated a rule on the bus home: either the players involved have to pay a fine of $200 into the tour kitty or they have to kiss on the lips," Murphy wrote.

"All I can say is this must be a very tight bunch of rugby players because very few people have paid the fine.

"We sound like a bunch of school kids, all shouting 'kiss, kiss!' down the bus. And they say we don't like each other?"

Murphy didn't reveal whether Irish prop John Hayes and Scottish hooker Gordon Bulloch have had to lock lips on tour. The pair were widely reported to have been involved in a stoush at training, although this has been hotly denied by coach Sir Clive Woodward.

- NZPA