Clubs reveal players want early return after
South Africa tourPlayers supposed to miss one of the Tests on welfare groundsEngland’s
British &
Irish Lions are poised to be available for all three autumn internationals in November despite an agreement which stipulates they will have a week off on welfare grounds, the Guardian understands.
![England’s Lions players set to bypass rest agreement for autumn Tests](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/530779b50f67ca0f44a72fbebe7c9d0f67d41830/0_64_2182_1309/master/2182.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=1f2a2a7a6920ea9321c89ece5cdeff03)
England play Tonga, Australia and South Africa this autumn and – according to a 2018 agreement between the Rugby
Football Union, the Rugby Players’ Association and Premiership Rugby – Lions players are due to sit out one of the fixtures. Enforced rests have proved unpopular with players in the past because they must forgo the lucrative £25,000 match fee, however, and it is understood selection will now be based on each individual’s circumstances.