Austin Healey will have the backing of the Professional Rugby Players' Association when he gets ready to face the Lions firing squad on his return from holiday.

Healey has been ordered to appear before a Lions disciplinary panel comprising tour manager Donal Lenihan, coach Graham Henry and skipper Martin Johnson to explain a series of comments he made in his controversial newspaper column ahead of the third Test defeat by Australia in Sydney last weekend.

The England international outraged Henry by calling Wallabies lock Justin Harrison a `plank' and `a plod' before the 29-23 reverse, giving the world champions a focus for their motivation which was hardly needed.

Healey's outburst mystified his Lions team-mates and also earned a swift rebuke from England manager Clive Woodward, who hinted that he would have been instantly sent home had he been in charge of the party.

However, PRPA chief executive Damian Hopley has leapt to Healey's defence and said the services of his organisation would be available to the player should they be required.

``I know Austin has an agent, but if he wishes us to be at his hearing we will be,'' said Hopley. ``We have to ensure any player is fairly represented in a situation such as this. It shouldn't be turned into a fait accompli.''

Healey is facing a fine in the region of £3,000, similar to the one dished out to fellow scrum-half Matt Dawson was hit by following his own media revelations earlier in the tour.

However, happily for the Wallasey-born star, the Lions management team have no power to invoke any international ban, leaving Healey free to be selected by Woodward for England's delayed Six Nations decider against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on October 22.

``The tour management of the Lions 2001 touring party has expressed considerable concern at the newspaper comments allegedly made by Austin Healey in advance of the Lions v Australia third Test match in Sydney last Saturday,'' said a statement issued on behalf of the Lions.

``Consequently, Mr Healey will be asked to attend a meeting of the disciplinary committee at a date to be set once he returns from holiday. The disciplinary committee of the Lions 2001 touring party wish to give Mr Healey the fullest opportunity to explain his alleged newspaper comments before considering any possible disciplinary action against him.''

Healey has been one of the most colourful figures in the rugby world for a number of years.

He has even faced considerable anger from his club colleagues because of his `chirpy' nature, although his abilities on the field have earned plaudits in equal measure.

The polarised opinions were neatly highlighted within days at the end of May when Healey shrugged off injury worries to turn in a man of the match display as Leicester edged out Stade Francais to take the Heineken Cup for the first time.

Then, almost immediately afterwards, the Wallasey-born international was threatening to quit the Tigers unless his demand for a regular starting berth at fly-half was met.

Healey later retracted the statement, claiming he had given an interview while hungover from his Heineken Cup celebrations. However, Hopley is adamant talk of gagging players is unrealistic in a professional sport.

``The players have copped a lot of flak but you can't go around gagging them,'' he said. ``The Lions squad was only selected two months before the tour, by which time contracts with newspapers had already been signed.

``Austin is a member of the players' association and we will offer whatever support we can.''