We have broken the 10500 mark and thank each follower for taking the time to visit our site! An article by KAIWHANA Rugby World is long overdue, and we thought it best to spend time on one of the most special events on the rugby calendar.
The British and Irish Lions Tour 2013!
Lots of debate and heated arguments in pubs all over the British Isles came to an end at last when the rugby gurus announced Sam Warburton as captain of the British Lions 2013 Squad. KAIWHANA Rugby World is not going to get involved with this debate about who should or shouldn't be there so all we say is best of luck to the lads, and may this tour end on a better note than their previous sojourn against the Springboks in South Africa! Here is the overall squad make up between the four nations! Wales supply the largest contingent of players to Gatland’s Lions squad with 15, the Scots have just 3, Ireland 9, and England 10.
History and background:
The British and Irish Lions (formerly known as the British Isles and the British Lions) is a team chosen from players from the national sides of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Combined rugby union sides from the then United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland toured in the Southern Hemisphere from 1888 onwards. The 1950's proved a golden age for Lions rugby, although only in the 1970's did style begin to match the substance of victory in New Zealand and South Africa. Originally, poorly organised Lions teams regularly suffered defeat at the hands of their hosts, but by 1955 the tourists took the matches seriously enough to obtain a 2–2 draw in South Africa. The 1970's saw a renaissance for the side. Most recently in 2009 the Lions suffered to the hands of the Springboks in one of the most exciting tours and series to date!
See why it is so special to play for the Lions:
Herewith the touring squad and some comments from abroad:
Backs:
Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Rob Kearney (Ireland); Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Alex Cuthbert (Wales), Sean Maitland (Scotland), George North (Wales); Jonathan Davies (Wales), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Wales), Manu Tuilagi (England); Owen Farrell (England), Jonny Sexton (Ireland); Conor Murray (Ireland), Mike Phillips (Wales), Ben Youngs (England)
Forwards:
Dan Cole (England), Cian Healey (Ireland), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Adam Jones, (Wales), Matt Stevens (England), Mako Vunipola (England); Dylan Hartley (England), Richard Hibbard (Wales), Tom Youngs (England); Ian Evans (Wales), Richie Gray (Scotland), Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales), Paul O'Connell (Ireland), Geoff Parling (England); Tom Croft (England), Toby Faletau (Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), Dan Lydiate (Wales), Sean O'Brien (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Sam Warburton (Wales).
Sam Warburton said:"It has been nine or ten days since I found out, it is the hardest secret I have had to keep. It's an accolade that very few people achieve and it is an unbelievable honour. I am the ultimate optimist and we want to go out there and win every match."
Gatland said of the man who he has selected as his leader:"He has been the most successful captain in the Northern Hemisphere. If we named the squad tomorrow Sam would be in the starting XV. He is a fantastic professional who leads from the front."
Graham Rowntree said:"We have got some battle-hardened warriors. All the forwards we are taking have stand-out qualities. I feel for the players left out, there are some exceptional players not coming."
Tour schedule (all times BST)
Sat 1 Jun 12:30 BARBARIANS Hong Kong Stadium (Hong Kong)
Wed 5 Jun 11:00 WESTERN FORCE Patersons Stadium (Perth)
Sat 8 Jun 10:30 QUEENSLAND REDS Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane)
Tue 11 Jun 10:30 COMB NSW-QLD COUNTRY Hunter Stadium (Newcastle)
Sat 15 Jun 10:30 NSW WARATAHS Allianz Stadium (Sydney)
Tue 18 Jun 10:30 ACT BRUMBIES Canberra Stadium (Canberra)
Sat 22 Jun 11:00 1st TEST v AUSTRALIA Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane)
Tue 25 Jun 10:30 MELBOURNE AAMI Park (Melbourne)
Sat 29 Jun 11:00 2nd TEST v AUSTRALIA Etihad Stadium (Melbourne)
Sat 6 Jul 11:00 3rd TEST v AUSTRALIA ANZ Stadium (Sydney)