Tag Archives: 2017 British and Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions appeared to be the biggest losers following Tuesday’s announcement of a revamped English domestic season which confirmed the combined side face a shortened trip to South Africa in 2021. That tour has been reduced to five weeks from six and eight matches from 10, as was originally agreed at a World Rugby meeting in San …

Warren Gatland has revealed he will never coach the British and Irish Lions again and has responded to critical comments from Seán O’Brien following the tour last summer.  The Lions’ 2017 tour of New Zealand was largely considered a success given the fact many fancied the All Blacks to win the contest outright. The Lions, however, picked up a draw on …

We wonder if over the next couple of weeks and months will we come across more revealing aspects of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Seán O’Brien’s comments over a week ago revealed that there may have been some issues brewing within the camp during the time spent in New Zealand. You can fully expect that the …

Think back to the events which unfolded at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch on June 10. Up to that point, the British and Irish Lions had performed poorly, scraping past a Provincial Union XV and losing to the Auckland Blues, the weakest of the New Zealand rugby sides.  At this stage, the knives were being sharpened ahead of what many commentators, …

Just as the news of Lions CEO, John Feehan’s, statement in response to Sean O’Brien’s initial comments which were made during the week with regards to his opinion on the coaching during the tour broke, O’Brien himself has released a further statement in response to the furore which has developed over the past 24 hours.  The reaction to O’Brien’s comments …

This issue won’t be going away anytime soon. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the comments Sean O’Brien made to the media this week regarding his opinion on this year’s Lions tour to the New Zealand.  O’Brien revealed that he felt the Lions should have won the series 3-0 and in the meantime, criticised …

With the new season already underway in the northern hemisphere, it’s hard to believe that the Lions Tour finished just two months ago – it feels a lot longer than that.  Of course, as you are well aware, the series ended in an unprecedented draw and led to some pretty strange scenes at the final whistle when both Sam Warburton …

We’re only one week away until the 2017 Rugby Championship kicks off in Sydney where the Wallabies will host the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium. That match takes place on Saturday morning and later that day, the Springboks host Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.  Much of the focus, of course, has been on the Sydney clash, …

Wales’ Liam Williams has explained exactly what was running through his mind in the build-up to one of the most well-worked tries of the Lions tour this summer.  The 2017 Lions series versus the All Blacks was filled with memorable moments. From Sonny Bill Williams being the first All Black to be shown a red card in 50 years to …

Jonathan Sexton came into this year’s Lions tour on the back of a disappointing end to the season with Leinster which saw the Irish out-half uncharacteristically out of form.  The lack of form continued into the series when he put in an indifferent display against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians. However, the Dubliner played better after every successive appearance in …

New Zealand rugby has been given a boost with the news that centre Ryan Crotty has extended his stay there for one more year. Nelson-born Crotty has put pen to paper on a deal which will see him turn out for the All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury for another year. A clever footballer, the 28-year-old has earned 27 caps for …

England and Lions prop Kyle Sinckler was arrested by police in Auckland after what is being described as a ‘minor disorder’. The player was arrested only a few hours after the tense final Test against New Zealand at Eden Park, which finished 15-15, but was later released without charge. According to Fairfax Media in New Zealand (via The42.ie), the arrest took place at about 3am on …

Earlier today we asked you to vote for your combined All Blacks – Lions XV based on the players who started for both sides in the Test matches played over the past three weeks.  Over 5,600 of you voted so we really appreciate your input. The results are in and here is your team: Joe Moody 58% (Mako Vunipola 42%) Jamie …

It’s hard to believe the British and Irish Lions tour is over for another four years. It seems that since the turn of the year, every second column inch has been dedicated to something Lions related – be it selection debate, the intense tour schedule, injury concerns, predictions of the series, the style of rugby the Lions will implement, the …

So the Lions tour is over and we were gifted with a cracking third Test match to finish off the series in Auckland. The Lions and All Blacks played out a 15-15 draw which was not short on drama.  We all remember the main highlights – the Romain Poite controversy, Elliot Daly’s huge penalty, Jordie Barrett’s try – but how …

Now that the British and Irish Lions tour is over, it’s a good opportunity to take stock and review what has been a cracking series.  With the series ending up in an unprecedented draw, it’s easy to argue that both teams were evenly matched for the most part, even though the All Blacks will probably feel they had moments in …

Well, after all the excitement over the past number of weeks, the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour is officially over. It certainly lived up to expectations and even surpassed them somewhat with the Lions drawing the series which many didn’t believe was possible at the beginning of the tour.  After the dramatic 15-15 draw at Eden Park, we asked …

This is peak Warren Gatland.  Warren Gatland is certainly a happy man right now. Although the Lions failed to win the series, he brought a team together to take on the world champions in their home patch and levelled the series. An achievement which should be lauded. There were so many different narratives throughout this Lions tour, one of which …