I WROTE it in the autumn and nothing has changed now that the British Lions' tour to New Zealand this summer draws ever nearer and the squad announcement is less than two weeks away.

I'm talking about player availability - I don't believe that players who have quit international rugby should go on the tour.

By that I mean no Lawrence Dallaglio and no Neil Back, and I'd say exactly the same if Martin Johnson, England's World Cup- winning captain, had made himself available like the other two, and the same applies if injury had not brought a premature end to the playing career of former Wales captain Rob Howley.

It isn't right that players who for whatever reason declare they no longer wish to play for their country, no matter what their experience or current ability, but then get chosen for the Lions Down Under.

It's an insult to all the players who have battled through the Six Nations Championship only to be deprived of perhaps the highest honour in the game by players who have done it all before anyway with their country and the Lions, but no longer feel able to commit themselves to international rugby.

If they have quit international rugby then it means precisely that, not one last go with the Lions.

Is it right, for example, that Dallaglio gets a place and either Wales captain Michael Owen or England's Martin Corry miss out? Surely not.

Is it OK for Back to travel at 36, possibly at the expense of Martyn Williams, voted the player of the Six Nations? Definitely not.

Coach Sir Clive Woodward ought to base his selection around players who have done the business right through the season for club or region and their country, not those who want a bit of glory to bring the curtain down on their careers, however illustrious it might have been.

And while we're at it, I wouldn't take Jonny Wilkinson, either. He has hardly played since that momentous World Cup final 18 months ago because of a whole series of unfortunate injuries, predominently to his shoulder/neck and knee.

Even if he does resume soon, and that must be open to doubt, he will have played no international rugby since the World Cup and there would have to be a question mark over his fitness to just slot in again at that level.

The form of Stephen Jones makes it easier to leave Wilkinson behind, anyway, for he has been the model of consistency right through the Six Nations, very much in the Wilkinson mould and a man who has now earned worldwide respect.

The balance of power has shifted so much during the dramatic seven weeks of the Six Nations that the whole emphasis has swung from all-white with a lot of green to predominantly red.

Wales can now expect to have the largest share of players, rather than England and Ireland, which would have been the case before the tournament started.

Most pundits have had their say, and I find it incredible that one of the more prominent ones should go for a Test back row of Back, Dallaglio and Martin Corry. Needless to say, he's very much English-based.

There are a number of Welsh players who must be rock-solid Test selections even now, almost two months before the party fly out - and what a party it is, 70-strong, 44 of them players in what must be regarded as an invasion rather than a tour.

Gethin Jenkins has made himself number one loose head prop in the eyes of just about every critic after a series of power-packed displays, while Jones now earns most votes at outside-half and Dwayne Peel ought to remain with him after a marvellous Six Nations.

Gareth Thomas, originally Wales captain for the Six Nations before breaking a thumb, could make the Test team, though maybe not at full back, while others right in the running for Test places are Shane Williams, Gavin Henson and Owen, all of whom relish the big occasion, though a lot more Welsh players will be on the trip.

My Lions Test team would be: Josh Lewsey (England), Jason Robinson (England), Gavin Henson (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) captain, Shane Williams (Wales), Stephen Jones (Wales), Dwayne Peel (Wales), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Gordon Bulloch (Scotland), Julian White (England), Ben Kay (England), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Martin Corry (England), Michael Owen (Wales), Martyn Williams (Wales).