Attempts to finalise the Lions tour schedule in South Africa next summer are being hampered by a dress rehearsal for the 2010 football World Cup being held in the country at the same time. Fifa, world football's governing body, stages the Confederations Cup the year before a big championship with participants from its global affiliate regions. It is taking place in June next year, which clashes with the eagerly awaited visit by the Lions.

This has created problems for the organisers of the Lions tour and restricts their options, not least in terms of where matches can be played. John Feehan, the chief executive of the Lions, said that many sports stadiums, including potential rugby venues, have been booked for some time.

“All these grounds are subject to Fifa conditions in terms of the periods between matches for pitches. This has caused quite a few logistical difficulties,” he said. “It is not the fault of Fifa or Saru [South African rugby's governing body], it is just a factor which has to be dealt with. As much as we would all like, we can't just move things from A to B.”

The complication means that there is little room for manoeuvre in the itinerary for the ten-match tour, which includes three internationals and is scheduled to start at the end of May 2009. That date conflicts with the end of the domestic season in England and Europe and has caused its own problems.

It could mean the party leaving without its contingent of English players, who would also miss the first match, unless a compromise can be found whereby the dates of the Heineken Cup final and Guinness Premiership Final are switched. This would mean the English final being played on the penultimate weekend in May and the Heineken Cup final a week later.

Even then, the Lions could be hostages to fortune, depending on which teams have reached the respective finals. Moving dates would probably not find favour with the French clubs, whose Top 14 championship reaches its climax at the same time. It may mean that both finals will be brought forward a week.

The Lions cannot leave for South Africa later and put back the end of the tour because of the regulation that requires players to be given an 11-week rest period before the start of a new season. Despite the hurdles facing him, Feehan is confident that solutions can be reached within the next fortnight. “We will work with and talk with anyone to ensure there is minimum disruption for everyone,” he said.

Award for Williams

Shane Williams has been named player of the tournament for the RBS Six Nations Championship. The 31-year-old Wales wing scored six tries during his team's grand-slam winning campaign, helping him to overtake Gareth Thomas as his country's record try-scorer with 41. Williams won 55 per cent of the public vote on rbs6nations.com. Sergio Parisse, the Italy No8, was second and Ryan Jones, the Wales captain, third.