Lions tour 2025

[ripper868]

Quite right, I'll sing you Milkshake Man if Hansen sings Amhrán na bhFiann.

Having taken the UK citizenship test, I doubt most UK born citizens would pass it either.

It's ok to acknowledge someone playing for a country not of their birth/upbringing is not originally from that country btw.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Quite right, I'll sing you Milkshake Man if Hansen sings Amhrán na bhFiann.

Having taken the UK citizenship test, I doubt most UK born citizens would pass it either.

It's ok to acknowledge someone playing for a country not of their birth/upbringing is not originally from that country btw.

Apropos of this, is Harry Potter (ex of Leicester and born in Wimbledon, albeit raised in Oz from the age of 11) likely to get a gig for the Wobblies?

 

[Furball]

I think most of us know what nationality we are at that stage and which country we'd like to represent.

Nah, this is bollocks. I'm proudly Scottish but would have absolutely jumped at the chance to represent Northern Ireland or Ireland in a sport in a hypothetical situation where I wasn't good enough to play for Scotland. You want to compete at the highest level you can.

 

[Furball]

Ah mate. Thinking familiarity with Ireland’s Call is a measure of Irishness would get your passport revoked. It’s like asking you to sing Australia’s last Eurovision entry as a citizenship test.

 

[Molehill]

Nah, this is bollocks. I'm proudly Scottish but would have absolutely jumped at the chance to represent Northern Ireland or Ireland in a sport in a hypothetical situation where I wasn't good enough to play for Scotland. You want to compete at the highest level you can.

Haven't you just proven the point then? You'd only play for the Irish if your first option didn't want you. Hansen is clearly an Aussie playing for Ireland as a second choice.

 

[ripper868]

Apropos of this, is Harry Potter (ex of Leicester and born in Wimbledon, albeit raised in Oz from the age of 11) likely to get a gig for the Wobblies?

I'd say pretty much any of the wingers in Super Rugby are a shout, of the wobs back 3 I'd say Tom Wright is about the only instapick, Kellaway perhaps the other most likely, Daugunu/Jorgenson probably the others with first crack, but I'd say HP has every chance of a run out this year or certainly by the RWC.

 

[Ali TT]

Nah, this is bollocks. I'm proudly Scottish but would have absolutely jumped at the chance to represent Northern Ireland or Ireland in a sport in a hypothetical situation where I wasn't good enough to play for Scotland. You want to compete at the highest level you can.

Obviously the hypothetical in this scenario being a sport where Scotland is stronger than Ireland (unless you are referring to cutting, skiing and middle distance running?).

Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[GotSpin]

Nah, this is bollocks. I'm proudly Scottish but would have absolutely jumped at the chance to represent Northern Ireland or Ireland in a sport in a hypothetical situation where I wasn't good enough to play for Scotland. You want to compete at the highest level you can.

That's fine IMO but the qualifcation period needs to be longer. Is it still only three years?

If you have players hopping around to play for different countries then tests will look no different to club matches

 

[the big bambino]

I like the idea of the Lions "island hopping" through Argentina, the South Pacific and Australia. I'm not sure if its logistically or financially practical, but it would make an interesting change in this traditional tour. (I like the Lions tours whether they're an anachronism or not).

Reading ripper's post on Hansen and it occurred to me I don't know all the words to Australia's anthem but would still stand for it. I think its ok to stand respectfully for an anthem even if you don't know the words.

I think it would be preferential if it was harder to qualify for an alternative nationality if your own country hasn't shown an interest in you. But the concept has become more fluid and in some sports the international arena is the pinnacle of a player's career. In others it is still important. So I suppose the rules accommodate career advancement for players.

 

[Uppercut]

Three years is an unusually short qualification time. The problem is that most countries have heavy restrictions on picking overseas-based players, but it's not really reasonable to expect players to forego career opportunities in the hope of playing for their country. Rugby salaries are very low for a job where you're forced to retire young, often with serious long-term health problems. With longer qualification times, some of the best players in the world might never play international rugby at all, which I don't think would be good for the sport.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Tis been bumped up to five years now, tbf.

The "project players" previously so beloved of Scots and Irish provinces seem to have dropped off a cliff since.

 

[Furball]

I like the idea of the Lions "island hopping" through Argentina, the South Pacific and Australia. I'm not sure if its logistically or financially practical, but it would make an interesting change in this traditional tour. (I like the Lions tours whether they're an anachronism or not).

Reading ripper's post on Hansen and it occurred to me I don't know all the words to Australia's anthem but would still stand for it. I think its ok to stand respectfully for an anthem even if you don't know the words.

I think it would be preferential if it was harder to qualify for an alternative nationality if your own country hasn't shown an interest in you. But the concept has become more fluid and in some sports the international arena is the pinnacle of a player's career. In others it is still important. So I suppose the rules accommodate career advancement for players.

Hansen's mother is also Irish so the idea that he represents Ireland isn't particularly wild.

 

[ripper868]

So, based on the Lions first team of the 'proper' tour since Argentina apparently didn't count.



That backline looks almost like the 1st test starting lineup for me, possibly with Gibson-Park for Williams and Kinghorne for Daly.
Forwards all pretty interchangeable for most part, doubt Pollock will be the starting 8 (or 7 or 6 tbh).

Expect the cats will win by 40ish or so.

 

[Molehill]

So, based on the Lions first team of the 'proper' tour since Argentina apparently didn't count.

View attachment 48240

That backline looks almost like the 1st test starting lineup for me, possibly with Gibson-Park for Williams and Kinghorne for Daly.
Forwards all pretty interchangeable for most part, doubt Pollock will be the starting 8 (or 7 or 6 tbh).

Expect the cats will win by 40ish or so.

I think Freeman is the other potential back starter not here.

 

[andruid]

The good news (not for Australia and Argentina) is that NZ and SA are going to resume proper tours to each others' countries in coming years. It looks like there will no Rugby Championship in 2026, 28, and 30

Rugby Championship is such a dull tournament name! If SA, and or NZ can get a third team to tour concurrently with them hosting each other, then we can have the Tri(y)Nations back

 

[Fuller Pilch]

C'mon Force

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Nice try. Nice assist by Lowe

 

[BoyBrumby]

Wow.

Some try.

Watch it get called back for the blatant forward pass from Russell earlier now.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Wow.

Some try.

Watch it get called back for the blatant forward pass from Russell earlier now.

Yeah it looked miles forward

 

[ripper868]

Decent start this. Lions should of course pull away shortly, but still a fun start.