Barbarians turn Regan into Bristol black sheep

Sale's decision to block Andrew Sheridan's release for the same Barbarians match has left England's veteran hooker on his own as the sole rebel.

He has been warned that he will have breached his contract by appearing for the invitational touring team against the World Cup winners.

"We have told Mark all along that he will not be released for this fixture,' Bristol chief executive David White said.

"We informed him by letter last week that if he does participate, he will be breaking his contract and will have to face the consequences.

"It could be a fine. We will not be taking this matter lightly. We have supported Premier Rugby's position on this match in terms of the non-release of players right from the outset, otherwise we could be losing players at any time in the future."

Regan, who will be paid a match fee of £4,000 along with the rest of the Barbarians, is to captain the invitational team.

Despite the probability that he would not have been required for Bristol's dead rubber Anglo Welsh tie against Leeds at the Memorial Ground on Sunday, Premier Rugby will demand to know why one player has been able to defy their blanket ban.

The threat of a second England player being caught in the political crossfire ended yesterday with Sheridan's withdrawal.

"Andrew is not being released for the Barbarians game," Sale chief executive James Jennings said. "He will be training with his club team-mates for the rest of the week."

Sheridan's manager, ex-Lions prop Mike Burton, accused Sale of "reneging" on a clause in the player's newly-signed contract releasing him for this match.

"There is a clear breach of contract here," Burton said. "Sale have reneged on an agreement but Andrew Sheridan is not the sort of chap to pursue the matter through the courts. He simply wants to geton with his rugby and I can only do as I am instructed."

England's giant prop was at Sale's Carrington training base yesterday while the rest of the Barbarians were checking into their West End hotel.

Unlike Bristol, Sale are still in with a chance of reaching the Anglo-Welsh semi-finals, albeit a slim one given that they need to beat Leicester at Welford Road on Friday and score four tries into the bargain.

Martin Johnson may have declared himself a non-runner for the role of England's first post-World Cup team manager but he will almost certainly be back in the game next season for the first time since his retirement more than three years ago.

The 37-year-old Lion is being lined up to take a seat on the newly-created Professional Game Board, a joint RFU-Premiership clubs venture to supervise the Twickenham peace deal with effect from next season.

Despite ruling himself out of a direct contact with the national team because "the timing isn't right."

Johnson is expected to ease his way back into the game by joining Gloucester owner Tom Walkinshaw, Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeleer and Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty as one of four club delegates to the 12-man board which will be chaired by RFU chairman Martyn Thomas.