Lions LEGACY
WHAT DOES it mean to play for the British & Irish Lions? It’s a question that is asked a lot and one that can be hard for players to answer, to articulate the feeling of being part of the legendary touring side.
As Kyle Sinckler says: “It’s like me describing to you what a food tastes like, but you have never tasted the food. Or what a colour looks like and you have never seen the colour. It’s hard to find words in the English language to describe how special it is to put on that jersey. It is the pinnacle.”
It’s also unique – four traditional rivals coming together to travel to the other side of the world and take on the best of the southern hemisphere. Willie John McBride, that most famous of Lions, sums it up perfectly: “It’s one of the most remarkable concepts in sport.”
But can that concept survive another 133 years? The hope is overwhelmingly yes, especially amongst players and fans, but the reality is that the legacy of the Lions has already been eroded in certain ways and support for the tours is not unwavering across the board. Issues around player release and preparation time have added to the complexities.
“I’m very passionate about the Lions, but my concern is that not everyone is aligned with the Lions now,” says four-time tourist Brian O’Driscoll. “The players, past and present, are the biggest advocates for the Lions; they’re the ones who need to continue driving it to make sure it’s
