Robinson has called for "all-party" support for the 11-week rest period

A storm is brewing with the clubs over whether players on Lions duty this summer should be given this already agreed amount of time off.

"I have a lot of sympathy for the directors of rugby, who understandably want to field their strongest possible sides," said Robinson.

"But the agreement is in place and it's important that all parties support it."

If the Lions trip is included as part of the mandatory 11-week break for England squad members, players who appeared in the final Test in Auckland will not be eligible for their clubs until 24 September.

The new Premiership season starts on 3 September.

Robinson added: "We must remember that we are talking about elite athletes, who need to have a minimum time to rest and recover from the previous season and prepare fully for the forthcoming season."

Our understanding has always been that the Lions tour fell outside the agreement Leicester chairman Peter Tom

However, the two Premiership sides most affected by the ruling, Sale and Leicester, insist they will play their Lions stars when they see fit.

"I cannot accept the statements made by the Rugby Football Union claiming that a clear agreement was in place," said Sale owner Brian Kennedy.

"This is absolutely not the case and Sale Sharks, along with every other Premiership club, are clearly within their right to play their English Lions in the Premiership if they chose to do so."

Leicester chairman Peter Tom added: "(Coach) Pat Howard will make individual decisions on each of our seven players who toured New Zealand during the summer.

"We have clarified that in doing so we will not contravene any regulations or agreement and we also have the backing of Premier Rugby.

"At Leicester the welfare of our players is paramount and we have a highly responsible attitude towards our duty of care to the whole squad.

"I would like to emphasise that we are not in conflict with the England management. Our understanding has always been that the Lions tour fell outside the agreement."

Rugby Football Union performance chief Chris Spice said that under an agreement reached between the RFU and Premier Rugby last February, Lions tourists could play three halves of rugby spread over the season's first three weekends.