BOURNEMOUTH head coach Will Croker insisted Joe Tarrant and Grant Hancox's call-ups to London Irish A represented positive news for all parties.

Front-row Tarrant and scrum-half Hancox were recommended by Lions to feature for the Premiership side's second string against Bristol on November 23.

Bournemouth are a community partner club for the Exiles and Croker has built on links with Irish's elite section which were forged during his time in charge at Basingstoke.

Croker told the Daily Echo: "It's a huge thing for the club and it's great that we can say that we are able to get our players in front of professional coaches.

"One of our players at Basingstoke, Toby Salmon, ended up being contracted on a non-paid basis by London Irish, loaned to Chinnor and has now signed a contract with Rotherham.

"So there is a real pathway for people who want to get to the professional game who have not been through the academy system.

"The last time I got involved in it, London Irish played Bath and the likes of Gavin Henson and Carl Fearns were playing. It's proper rugby.

"It's good on all fronts because, ultimately, we're ambitious and we want to move up the leagues. But you can't stop players who have ambition and we want to push players up the pyramid – it's how it works.

"Even if they don't get picked up, the confidence they get from playing at such a level just means they come back to their clubs all the better for it.

"If you are a young player with aspirations in the Wessex region, there is only one club that can offer you that pathway."

Lions are due to host Old Centralians at Chapel Gate tomorrow (2.30pm) and will be without the unavailable Dan Cawley, while Duncan Soden has broken a bone in his hand.

Centre Adam Higgins, a consistent performer in a Lions shirt this term, is moving to Australia.