Lions Tour: An emergency Lions Committee meeting has been arranged for Dublin today, where the issue of former England coach Clive Woodward's position as Irish and British Lions coach is to be discussed.

Reports from the media in Britain, based on what is described as "good authority," have claimed that if Woodward is removed from his position as coach of the Lions squad, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan would step in. O'Sullivan and Scotland's Ian McGeechan are on board the tour as assistants to Woodward.

Committee members are said to be questioning Woodward's commitment to the preparations for the seven-week tour to New Zealand after he resigned as coach of his national side last week and stated his coaching ambitions now lay with soccer.

The four-man committee, who will meet today, comprises of Ireland's Noel Murphy, England's Bill Beaumont, Gordon Dickson from Scotland and Wales' David Pickering. Beaumont has come out strongly in support of the World-Cup-winning coach and believes he is still the man to lead the summer tour. "It is a case of clearing the air as far as I'm concerned," said Beaumont. "My own view is that Clive will be taking the squad to New Zealand.

"Clive's position is an agenda item because those on the committee read newspapers, hear stories and need to know what is going on. Clive has not signed a contract with us, but we shook hands with him and it was clear from his remarks last week that he remains totally dedicated to the Lions.

"I will be speaking to Clive before the meeting, but he has already assured me that he'll not be taking on any commitments which would interfere with his job of preparing the Lions."

Murphy was yesterday less forthcoming on where he or any of the other committee members stood on the issue, but confirmed that Woodward's position would be on the agenda today.

"The meeting is a full meeting of the Lions committee. I really don't want to comment on Clive Woodward," said Murphy.

"The four of us will be at the meeting so I don't wish to comment on Clive at this point in time. It (the meeting) will discuss the progress of the Lions tour to date and one of the issues to be discussed will be Clive Woodward's position (as manager)."

And the position of O'Sullivan? "Clive Woodward is on record as saying Eddie O'Sullivan and Ian McGeechan and others will be part of his coaching team," he said.

A working associate of O'Sullivan claims the Irish coach knows nothing of his possible elevation in the event of Woodward's removal. "I spoke to Eddie 10 minutes ago and he didn't mention anything to me about this. Woodward mentioned Eddie twice last week in the context of him (Woodward) having his coaches in place," he said.

It is believed that Wales are particularly unhappy about the current position and although there is broad-based admiration for McGeechan's ability, O'Sullivan is the one who will step in.

"If Woodward is sacked, He (O'Sullivan) is in pole position," said a British source. "In that event, I have it on good authority that Eddie O'Sullivan will take over."

Wales are the unhappiest of the three Celtic unions, believing Woodward should have acted with more dignity last week when resigning and been more mindful of his position with the Lions, which demands that he be on good terms with all four home unions.

The chief source of their displeasure, though, is believed to be Woodward's approach to Gareth Jenkins to join his coaching staff for the 10-match trip.

Jenkins, the Llanelli Scarlets head coach, was turned down for the Wales job earlier this year and became embroiled in a public spat with the Welsh Rugby Union after learning of his fate from one of his players.

The WRU chief executive David Moffett and chairman David Pickering both said they had no comment to make on Woodward ahead of the meeting

Meanwhile, the IRFU have announced that Ireland will tour Japan in June 2005, playing two tests and a warm-up fixture.

The tests will take place in Tokyo on June 12th and 19th against a side they have never lost to in their three previous test matches.