Sackey denies British and Irish Lions bias

Ambitious: Sackey has his eyes on a Lions spot

Wasps and England wing Paul Sackey doesn't think Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan will show favouritism to his players when naming his British and Irish squad.

With the Guinness Premiership starting this weekend players throughout the British Isles will be eager to impress McGeechan.

And Sackey, one of those harbouring serious selection ambitions, doesn't believe playing under McGeechan at Wasps will mean he has a better chance of selection.

"Everyone says it's a blessing for Wasps players that he's the coach, but it's not," Sackey told BBC Sport.

"If he picks some of the Wasps boys, it's like he is being biased. But he will pick players only on performance."

McGeechan, who was appointed as Head Coach in May, will take charge of his fourth British and Irish Lions tour in South Africa next year.

He has been widely tipped to take Wasps' Head Coach Shaun Edwards with him too. And Sackey, one of nine Wasps players in England's Elite squad, does not expect any bias when the squad is named.

"It's nice that he is there - he's my coach," he said.

"But on the flip side, people can get on his back about picking players who he knows a lot about.

"It's a hard one for him too, so it can work both ways."