• Help Support The Rugby Forum :

British & Irish Lions 2025 General News and Chat

The Rugby Forum - Global Rugby Union News, Six Nations & RWC Discussion

Help Support The Rugby Forum:

TRF_Olyy said:
Location probably helps - 5hr direct flight from Samoa vs almost 2days of travel from Argentina (George is taking 3, maybe 4, flights)
Click to expand...
It really devalues the Lions shirt that a player's selection or not could depend on whether he happens to be in Samoa or Argentina at the time of the call-up.
 
AngloScotsHybrid said:
It really devalues the Lions shirt that a player's selection or not could depend on whether he happens to be in Samoa or Argentina at the time of the call-up.
Click to expand...
While Scotland are in Samoa right now, it's highly likely that England are in the US by now.

Also consider which coachs are prepared to release players
 
Nicky Smith deserves selection over Rory Sutherland. Smith has been fantastic for Tigers this season. I was at the Tigers v Northampton game at Welford Road and Nicky Smith mullered the Northampton scrum the whole game.
 
AngloScotsHybrid said:
Nicky Smith deserves selection over Rory Sutherland. Smith has been fantastic for Tigers this season. I was at the Tigers v Northampton game at Welford Road and Nicky Smith mullered the Northampton scrum the whole game.
Click to expand...
Even as a Saints fans, with are scrum. That's probably not a big as achievement as you think it is.
 
I don't really understand the point of playing France. I was assured the main reason the Lions are still a thing (despite the money it generates) is its heritage.

That said - there is a non-zero chance Australia aren't even professional in another 12 years.
 
A tour to a country where rugby matters, there’d be great opposition, great scenery and a totally different culture.

And frankly far better wine than you get in Aus (especially), NZ, SA or South America.

And just a couple of hours away.

What’s not to like?

Cycle of NZ, SA, Fra and then a test only tour against the rest of the world.

The tours stand or fall or the tests. But for all the hype, underwhelming doesn’t begin to describe this tour so far.

Or just can the whole idea.
 
For me we play the French teams so often it's a bit blah

Genuinely I would rather see a combined SH team and change it between north and south hosting it.

This tour would've been so much better with something like
Pre tour v Argentina
Game 1 v Samoa (Aus play Tonga)
Game 2 v Tonga (Aus pls Fiji
Game 3 v Fiji (Aus play Samoa)
Test 1
Combined team of some kind midweek
Test 2
Test 3

Both teams have equal prep
 
Last edited:
LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan) said:
For me we play the French teams so often it's a bit blah
Click to expand...

That’s true.

But then again we’ve also got the SA teams in the URC and Champions Cup and with the AIs and summer tours and player mobility between clubs the SH players aren’t the mythical beasts of old either.

I think Fra would be great for players and fans and could experiment with warm ups against the likes Spain and Georgia.

Unfortunately the initial phase of this tour is going to have to force some rethinking one way or another.
 
End of the day the Lions concept is retained and against a top international side. It needs to be competitive. France and top 14 teams will be. I don’t see what there’s not to like on top of it would be a big revenue raiser, a couple hours travel away and it would be only once every 12 years? Assuming SA is retained and instead there’s a combined Aus/NZ tour? Or retain the current structure and it would be once every 16 years. Worth a try.
 
I struggle to see the top 14 teams wanting to ruin their preseason rest for a one off lions game

I can’t see them fielding full strength sides and will prob have less starters than the Aussie teams
 
Only way I'd not hate this is I'd it's warmups v Rugby Europe Championship teams, France A and French Barbarians.

Fully loaded Top 14 teams would smoke the Lions in warm up games and espoirs would be cannon fodder.
 
Any French tour would be a once in every decade+ event a long way in the future. Deals can be done and contracts made.

French rugby is also huge on civic pride in a way few others (and certainly not Aus) are. So from that perspective alone I’d have thought most clubs would kill for the chance to take down the Lions. Llanelli are still dining out on beating the ABs in 1972.
 
Derpus said:
I don't really understand the point of playing France. I was assured the main reason the Lions are still a thing (despite the money it generates) is its heritage.

That said - there is a non-zero chance Australia aren't even professional in another 12 years.
Click to expand...
Their best players will be but playing in New Zealand, Japan, France or England.
 
Derpus said:
I don't really understand the point of playing France. I was assured the main reason the Lions are still a thing (despite the money it generates) is its heritage.

That said - there is a non-zero chance Australia aren't even professional in another 12 years.
Click to expand...
Generally speaking it’s private schools keeping the game afloat. Same goes for cricket over here.
 
In England private schools are both shrinking and also becoming more reliant on demographics I can’t imagine being as keen on rugby. Plus brain damage crisis doesn’t help at all.
 
Ddanno said:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c89en8k0j9jo
Why are the Lions being total dicks about this
Click to expand...
So the Lions complain about Australia not releasing their best players for the warm ups and devaluing the games, but then also complain about Samu playing which would make the team better over a minor technicality thus devaluing the match.

Considering they have a brand to protect they don't seem very bothered about looking like complete dickheads.
 

Similar threads

Bada-Bing!
Brumbies vs the BIL
7 8 9
Replies
240
Views
10K
petetherhooker
petetherhooker
AlRums
URC 2026/27 - Fixtures
Replies
0
Views
125
AlRums
AlRums
General Melchett
AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions
10 11 12
Replies
331
Views
13K
Kiwiwomble
Kiwiwomble
Ddanno
Play Offs to move to neutral venues
Replies
14
Views
360
Brown Bottle
B
Quel Carreleur
Mixed messages when financing women's rugby
Replies
0
Views
698
Quel Carreleur
Quel Carreleur

Latest posts

Back
Top