What is the point of a Lions tour?

Roar Pro

By Ben J, 11 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: british and irish lions, International Rugby, Rugby Union, Springboks

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British Lions' Mike Phillips, right, clears the ball as South Africa's Bakkies Botha, left, looks on during their international rugby union match at King's Park, Durban, South Africa, Saturday, June 20, 2009. AP Images

Now that the dust has almost settled on the latest edition of the British Lions, it got me contemplating about the real reason for the whole expedition.

Do we have Lions tours because:

1. We want to test the best of British against the relevant Southern Hemisphere team?
2. We are nostalgic, harking back to an age that has simply past us by. By going “on tour” and pretending that the “high veldt” and playing against the “Boers” still has a mysterious quality if the country in question happens to be South Africa
3. A money making scheme which gives thousands of Brits a good excuse to party and buy “hospitality packages”? (if ever there was a euphemism for fleecing, that is it)
4. We want to experience a festival of rugby and that something different and unknown which the Lions provide?

I will be the first to acknowledge that, apart from the first two Tests, the 2009 Lions left me cold and confused. SARFU, or whoever has made a complete hash of the itinerary, ticket prices, venues (too big and empty) and the non availability of the Springboks in the provincial teams, made it a farce from a viewing perspective.

From my perch, the only people that lost out completely in this spectacle were the average Springbok supporters, who wanted to attend games but did not see their way to pay almost four times what a Super 14 game would cost and more than double a Tri Nations Test.

The end result was a largely soulless tour, bereft of passion and local support.

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The Crowd Says (16) | Page 1 of Comments

pothale said | July 11th 2009 @ 4:19am | Report comment

Can’t resist being picky, Ben J.

The team is called the British and Irish Lions.

Would you not want to test the best of British and Irish players? (and no, they’re not the same thing)

Playing against the Boers has no historical resonance at all – from my point of view.

I’m sure there were thousands of Irish Lions fans as well enjoying hospitality packages and getting fleeced along the way.

And yes people do want to experience a festival of rugby that only happens once every twelve years and is something to celebrate.

Where are you from, by the way? South Africa?

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Simon Wiseman said | July 11th 2009 @ 4:11pm | Report comment

Im sorry Ben J but dont think you should be writing on any Rugby blog or sports blog for that matter. You have no passion no understanding of the history (of the game) and no real connection to the game. Best to save your comments for the future with your buddies while watching the Super 25 , a boring and useless excercise in money grabbing by the sports modern day administrators , for the modern day fan !!

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Guy Smiley said | July 11th 2009 @ 4:17pm | Report comment

Ben this is circular philosophising – what the point of going out, you’ll only end up back at home anyway! To paraphrase Pieter de Villiers (shudder) – this is sport man! You either get it or you don’t.

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Mike C said | July 11th 2009 @ 7:46pm | Report comment

Wow,

I have to agree with other commenters. When I read your thoughts I thought, I can’t let this guy write this drivel without retort. So I was happy to see other readers clearly felt the same.

“The end result was a largely soulless tour, bereft of passion and local support.”

What, on earth, are you talking about? Seriously! This tour gave us real fans many moments to savour! It felt like a return to the rugby of old, that we love and is a massive advertisement for rugby in the Northern Hemisphere. I felt that save some bad finishes, unfortunate mid game injuries and ‘bounce of the ball’ incidents the Lions could’ve actually managed a series win!

Open your eyes Ref, you’re missing a good game!

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Ian Noble said | July 12th 2009 @ 5:04am | Report comment

Ben

Jeepers what planet are you on!

30/35000 BI supporter in SA, many millions following the games pre test matches and the tests v Boks in the UK. I know of a number of followers who are already clearing their diaries for OZ 2013. Forget the RWC 2011, the joy of being with all the other supporters supporting a joint team is a joy and great fun. The rugby was not bad either for a scratch side.

I see from Geech initial post tour thougths are that a manager should be appointed at least two years before the tour, the Lions should have greater input into the tour itinerary, the tour should be longer by at least another week to allow a test side to play together prior to the firat test and the host nation should have the courtesy to put out stronger sides.

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Fred said | July 12th 2009 @ 6:31pm | Report comment

Goodness Gracious Me!

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Working Class Rugger said | July 12th 2009 @ 7:18pm | Report comment

Maybe the ticket prices were too expensive but come on. The quality of the Rugby come the Tests series was fantastic.

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Ben J said | July 13th 2009 @ 5:56pm | Report comment

Seeing that noone actualy answered any of the questions it is clear that answers are hard to come by. I did mention that the first 2 tests were excellent but that local support was poor and that blame should be heaped on SARFU. Yes there were 35-40k but in SA we were told 50k would be coming. We were told the games were “sold out” That was a lie. We were led to believe that B&I Tours are the pinnacle outside the World Cup(ala John Smit) and then the 3rd game was started with 10 changes. For a tour that only comes around every 12 years it was not given the respect it deserved.

And Simon, play the game not the man!:)

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AndyS said | July 13th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment

Sorry Ben, but it is peurile question. It is like me asking you to explain the point of matches between SA and NZ, given that they play each other every year and really share little in common but a rugby season that is arguably just an accident of geography. If you can’t understand the significance of the event and associated history, you have no terms of reference and no answer will satisfy you.

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Rowdy said | July 13th 2009 @ 11:50pm | Report comment

Well, I think Ben raises a good question – if it’s purely so that SH sides can wallop the best of 4 unions so they can feel good about themselves, then this tour was perfect for the Boks – none were on show during the midweek or pre-test games. If it’s a festival of rugby, then someone needs to tell the players to stop taking it all so seriously, for goodness’ sake – just get out there and fling it around. If it’s purely commercial, then screw the paying fan and ratchet up the TV rights as far as possible in order to leverage the core brand values (good eh ? I’ve been on a management course).

My feeling is that it should showcase British and Irish rugby and that the players should enjoy the country and make friends, win, lose or draw, and the tourists and travelling fans should take it all very seriously and professionally whilst at same time trying to break all previous records for alcohol consumption. Cliff Morgan still has SA friends made whilst touring in 1955 – that’s the point.

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