Cameron Hill

They also chatted around the remarkable result for Connacht away to the Stormers last weekend.

Stuart Lancaster's side earned a bonus point 33-24 win in Cape Town to keep the momentum in their push for a top eight finish.

Next up is a trip to Johannesburg to face the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Thornley offered this fascinating nugget which speaks volumes about how Connacht's approach has changed this season under Lancaster.

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Leinster will be without Max Deegan for next weekend's Investec Champions Cup semi-final at home to Toulon.

The versatile forward was shown a yellow card for taking out winger Werner Koch in the air during last Friday's URC win over Ulster in Belfast.

That was then upgraded to a 20-minute red after bunker review, and Deegan has been handed a two-match ban as a result.

That means he'll miss this weekend's hosting of Benetton and the last four clash with Pierre Mignon's side at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.

The British and Irish Lions are reportedly exploring potential tours to France, Japan and the Americas in the coming years.

According to a piece in the Telegraph today, the organisers have launched their Beyond29 project and are actively seeking proposals for their approach after the next tour of New Zealand in 2029.

The report outlines that the Lions want to engage a consultancy firm to determine the direction of the tour going forward.

They're seeking, quote, an analysis of which locations around the world could potentially host future tours, men and or women, with a view to increasing commercial return and fan engagement whilst not damaging the core DNA from our preferred markets, existing Sanzar nations, France, Americas and Japan.

Now that's all very corporate speak, but it does suggest a willingness to change to a 16-year rotation with a new touring destination, adding to the established cycle of New Zealand, then South Africa, then Australia.

Only three times in Lions history has a different nation hosted a standalone tour, Argentina in 1910, 1927 and 1936.

Talks are underway for the Lions to take on France in a one-off game ahead of that 2029 tour.