2013 Lions Tour: A Legacy at Risk

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: April 30, 2013

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There are few legacies more famous in world rugby circles than that of the British and Irish Lions.

The first Lions fixture and first tour collaboration between the four British home unions took place in 1950. Since then, the world has patiently awaited the naming of each star-studded tour side for an event which, in the modern era, takes place every four years.

The glamour of a Lions tour comes mainly from the idea that the British Isles are putting their best foot forward against their Southern Hemisphere rivals. Since the 15s version of rugby union is not an official Olympic sport, a Lions tour represents the only opportunity for British and Irish athletes to play together under a single banner and to try to accomplish victories as a team which, at least in recent memory, their individual nations mostly have not.

Every four years there is an unbelievable swelling of British and Irish pride, travel agents go mad with requests for tour packages, and the rugby world engages in months of unrivalled speculation about the composition of the increasingly huge tour party that will travel abroad to do battle.

In 2013, the responsibility for those selections falls upon Lions head coach Warren Gatland. 

Few would envy him his task.

The rugby media, which is capable at times of tremendous overreach and overhype, are at full volume ahead of Tuesday's announcement of the squad that will travel to Australia this summer to face what is currently the world's third-ranked team.

So high are the levels of emotion surrounding such events that hardened legends of past Lions tours are often literally brought to tears when they attempt to convey the importance of these moments to the new generation.

Our video shows one such moment from Sir Ian McGeechan in 2009, when—on behalf of all previous Lions players—he implored that group of Lions to break a five test match losing streak and r...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union

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