Saracens boss Mark McCall has branded the timing of the Lions' meeting "unbelievable", with the men in black facing Clermont in the Champions Cup final on Saturday.

Saracens cancelled training on Monday with their six Lions busy with Gatland's squad meeting, while Gloucester duo Greig Laidlaw and Ross Moriarty had to be diverted from preparations for Friday's Challenge Cup final.

Gatland insisted the Lions had not however been asked to reschedule Monday's meeting, claiming the date had been in everyone's diary for months.

"I've got to understand where they are coming from, having been involved in the situation, and I understand Mark's reasoning as well," said Gatland of Saracens boss McCall's comments.

"If it had been last week it would have potentially affected 22 clubs. I understand it's a massive week for them. But Mondays tend to be a recovery day.

"This date has been communicated months and months and months ago. Now I don't know when Saracens got the information.

"But we have told the unions about this date for a long, long time. So we haven't had any requests from anyone to move this date.

"But I understand the situation, and appreciate the fact that Saracens and Gloucester are releasing their players to us.

"If they hadn't been released to us that would have been very difficult for a number of reasons. So it does make a difference."

Saracens have provided the Vunipola brothers, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Owen Farrell and Jamie George to the Lions' touring party.

McCall hit out at the Lions' timing as Saracens build towards facing Clermont in the European showdown, telling the Sunday Telegraph: "There is a Lions get-together on Monday which seems to be quite unbelievable that it is then given it is the most important week of the season.

"You'd have thought someone would have had the foresight to see that it might affect the club."

But Lions coach Gatland insisted the traditional first squad meeting is vital in setting the tone for next month's New Zealand tour.

"We're very grateful to Saracens and Gloucester with big games this week for releasing players to us," said Gatland.

"It does really make a big difference for us. It's exciting, but also a very important day for us.

"Every Lions squad goes through this organisation day. I've spoken to the most of the players, it's like the first day of school.

"Everyone's a little nervous, getting to know each other, players introducing themselves."