THERE is no way retired international stars Scott Quinnell, Robert Howley, Martin Johnson and Bryan Redpath should be considered for the British Lions tour to New Zealand next year.

The subject has reared its ugly head again after Lions coach, England's Sir Clive Woodward, said he would be prepared to consider them all.

That's a bit rich coming from a coach who, even if he did guide England to World Cup glory last year, is devaluing the Lions by taking a party of 70 Down Under next summer.

Yes, that's right, SEVENTY. Woodward wants 44 players and 26 back-up staff on the tour, he wants a midweek team as well as a side for the Tests and he wants a midweek coach with back-up in addition to himself and his own support team.

He might as well say he wants his own plane or his own hotel. The infrastructure in New Zealand is not that great so supporters will have real problems given that there are likely to be around 30,000 of them, but at this rate Woodward's Lions will leave no room for anyone else anyway.

Playing for the Lions is probably the pinnacle of any player's career, arguably even higher than representing his country. The Lions are rapturously received wherever they play in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, they draw capacity crowds everywhere and it's a massive honour to play for them.

Clearly a sufficiently large party has to be taken to cover Saturday and midweek games while there will always be injuries and, in view of the ever greater intensity, there is a grave danger of burn-out.

But to go with 44 players, many of whom will never get near a Test place, is giving the glory of becoming a Lion away, it's cheapening what should be the greatest honour in a player's career.

And with 26 staff as well from coaches to tacticians to nutritionists to media officers, even lawyers. I know the game has come a long way since the days when Lions teams were away for four months and travelled by boat, but this is plain daft.

So is the decision to consider Quinnell, Howley, Johnson and Redpath.

No-one is questioning their pedigree. Their records speak for themselves.

They have all been distinguished players who have brought distinction to their countries and their clubs and even the Lions in the past. But that's the point, it's in the past.

Even if a player like Howley is still performing really well, as he showed in the Wasps' march to the Heineken Cup last season, his days at international level are over.

Howley & Co quit the international scene because they wanted nothing more to do with it, especially the major commitment involved in spending considerable time away from their families.

That's fair enough, particularly when they have done it all, seen it all. But now to make themselves available for the Lions smacks of selfishness.

They don't want the dirge of international rugby and all the commitment that is required, but a bit of glory with the Lions for six weeks, that's ok it seems. What about all those players with the four home countries who are still going through the mill? What about their commitment, the amount of time they are prepared to give up to play for their countries and travel to far-off places like Australia for the World Cup?

Are some of those to be cast aside for people who are no longer prepared to give their full commitment? It is palpably unfair on the current players.

And, in case you haven't noticed, all the players in question are over 30 with their best days behind them which means they shouldn't be considered for the Lions.

The All Blacks have shown in the current Tri Nations series that they are young, abrasive, super fit and go right to the end as they showed in Saturday's epic last gasp triumph against South Africa.

You can't go to a fanatical rugby country like New Zealand and the rigours of their winter, tipping rain against Australia one week and freezing cold against South Africa seven days later, with the backbone of the team made up of thirty-somethings who no longer play international rugby.

If that happens the tourists will be run off their feet and with so many 'caps' being given away cheaply, the Lions will return home thoroughly discredited.

That means Woodward will have done a great institution like the British Lions a grave disservice.

Meanwhile, Newport Gwent Dragons are set to confirm former Australian rugby league coach Chris Anderson as the successor to Mike Ruddock.

As I've written before, it will prove to be either an inspired choice or a grave mistake. Only time will tell, but I have a hunch it could prove the former.

Having met Anderson privately at some length a few weeks ago, he's clearly a shrewd guy who sums people up pretty quickly.

He calls a spade a spade as you'd expect from a top Aussie rugby league coach.

He's here for a challenge, for a change of scenery and the job clearly appeals to him.

Most important of all, he wants to enjoy the experience, and that could be the key to the Dragons' season.