The England World Cup winner insisted players such as Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back and Martin Johnson, who have quit international rugby, will face an uphill battle to make his Lions squad.

Woodward said: The key thing that I want to stress is that I intend to use the 6 Nations and the players who are available to international rugby as the key benchmark.

I dont think you can never say never but I would have to have a compulsive reason to pick any player who is not available to international rugby.

My job, along with all the other senior representatives, is to make sure we pick the strongest possible team.

If you are not playing international rugby then its still a step up to Test rugby.

Its definitely a disadvantage [not to be playing]. I think its absolutely critical and with the history of the Lions we have got to take players playing for the four countries.

There would have to be a compulsive reason for me to go outside the international 6 Nations arena.

Woodward also revealed the race for the captaincy was still wide open, which meant the RBS 6 Nations players would have an even bigger incentive to do well.

It is an open book, he added. There are some outstanding candidates from all four countries.