Lions omission will ‘eat away’ at Haskell: Young

England and Wasps flanker James Haskell’s omission from the British and Irish Lions squad for their upcoming tour of New Zealand will “eat away at him”, Wasps director Dai Young has said.The 32-year-old Haskell, who has 75 caps for England, returned to action in January after being sidelined for nearly seven months due to toe surgery. His comeback was then interrupted after he suffered a concussion playing for Wasps in the European Champions Cup.Wasps team mate Joe Launchbury was also left out of the Lions squad but Young said that while the 26-year-old second rower might get another opportunity, Haskell’s chance had probably gone.“It’s a hard pill to swallow, if you’ve got 70-odd caps for his country and not made a Lions tour,” Young told British media.“Joe, if he doesn’t get on the place, has potentially got another crack, he’s young enough. Hask probably hasn’t.“That will eat away at him deep down.”Wasps are five points clear at the top of the English Premiership but centre Elliot Daly was the only player from the side to make it into Warren Gatland’s 41-man squad for the New Zealand tour that starts on June 3.“For a team sitting at the top, I’m surprised how few representative players we’ve got,” Dai added. “If you look at some of the Premiership teams below us, most of them have got more players on the Lions and England tours.”Leinster and Ireland star Ross to retire Leinster and Ireland prop Mike Ross announced on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season. Ross made his Test debut in 2009 and won 61 caps for Ireland, while twice helping his country win the Six Nations title.The 37-year-old represented Ireland at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and made his final international appearance against South Africa last year.He joined Leinster from Harlequins eight years ago, helping the Irish province win two European Cups, the European Challenge Cup and two Celtic League titles.“rugby has been a huge part of my life, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been a part of some amazing teams,” Ross told Leinster’s website.“In particular, I will never forget winning the European Cup in 2011 or the Six Nations Championship in 2014.“I never dreamt, having had such a late start in the professional game, that I would go on to achieve such goals, or win 61 caps for Ireland.”Leinster head coach Leo Cullen added: “Mike has played such a major role in Leinster’s successes since he joined from Harlequins in 2009.“He was at the very heart of Leinster’s famous comeback against Northampton in the 2011 European Cup final with a brilliant second-half scrummaging display that helped turn the tide of momentum.”England’s Genge signs new deal with LeicesterEngland prop Ellis Genge signed a new contract with English Premiership club Leicester yesterday. Genge initially joined Leicester on loan from Bristol last year before making his move permanent and his impressive development has been rewarded with a new deal.The 22-year-old made his Test debut against Wales 11 months ago, while he has been named in the England squad for the two-Test Argentina tour later this year.“I came here to develop as a player and I feel I have come on a lot since I joined the club,” Genge said.“I’ve been learning all the time, working with people like Marcos Ayerza, Dan Cole and now Boris Stankovich.“I just want to play rugby and I am enjoying it at Tigers. It’s great to play at Welford Road with crowds of over 20,000 every week.”