Lions Tour 2025
- Thread starter KevinO
- Start date
Sword of Justice
Colin Windon (37)
By the time they play the Wallabies in Brisbane they’ll have played Los Pumas, four super teams and an A/NZ rep team. All away. They’ll be sharp.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Be brilliant if there could be a loss or 2 in there prior. I know they don't always have the 1st XV v the Super sides but a bit of uncertainty amongst the squad.
Crashy
John Solomon (38)
kind of Ironic given one of RA's and Waratahs / Reds sponsor.
Noice...
Not casting judgement - just find it curious.
A great initiative.
I reckon the Lions had more of a say in picking this one than Rugby Australia.
It also makes sense for the Lions. It's one of the most common mid-week trips touring fans do between tests so there's a strong connection there. Last time around I spoke to a bunch of people who had been to Cairns etc. between games to go snorkeling on the reef as an organised part of their tour.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Probably touring them as well during the day. Schools do provide a better option you'd think with the fields adjoined.
You give him a nudge about the Wallabies job post Lions if Schmidt ain't around? Tell him to pack a bit more and stay on.
You give him a nudge about the Wallabies job post Lions if Schmidt ain't around? Tell him to pack a bit more and stay on.
Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
I wouldn't be amazed to see them exploring sponsorship with a big gym corporation like Virgin Active, particularly given they're a UK company with plenty of locations in the home nations. I'm a bit surprised we haven't seen more of it from rugby sides in the past to be honest.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Virgin makes sense for the Lions but other than that the Fitness companies in general are very financially fragile. They come and go like a third tier competition.
[gestures towards St Kevins College]
Gym right next to field one and two, so it's a winning deal. Sione is gonna be busy there anyway, so might as well make it easier on the team - they'll need all the help they can get.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
He did say to me, "I love Melbourne and its coffee, best city in the world. I loved the Rebels, was hankering to coach them after Ireland but alas, with their death my love for rugby dies too. Loss is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim. Adieu my dear Rebels"
Pretty intense dude.
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
You tellin me a bloke with 370 games for Wigan in RL said "Adieu". Dreamin
Can take the boy out of Wigan, but you can't take the Wigan out of the boy.
Can take the boy out of Wigan, but you can't take the Wigan out of the boy.
Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
Sure, but they've never been afraid of throwing money around while they're on the up.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
I could see this being a chance to reduce how often the players are getting on buses to travel to train. The squad overall is playing a lot of games within several weeks. If you don't need to get on a bus and can walk to the gym/recovery that would have a pretty good knock on effect mentally.
Looking at Brisbane (as we don't have a Virgin Active gym), touring teams in the past have stayed at the Hilton (or CBD) and bussed it to the Grammar fields, which are great, but by the time you load up and get going, it's a 30-40 minute ordeal just to train.
From memory, the only school that would have Gym + Ovals together that are "good enough" for the Lions would be BBC, but that's still 20-30 minutes worth of loading + driving.
BGS/Terrace old boys will need to correct me if I'm wrong, but the ovals at the schools probably aren't at the quality the Lions would expect, so the lions would need to bus it to two locations (unless a Gym is knocked up at BGS).
Whereas, the Wallabies will stay somewhere and head straight to Herston (10-20 minutes bus) where they have Gym + Recovery + fields.
I can't think of a more of a logistical nightmare in world rugby (for one team) than the Lions tour due to mid-week and weekend games playing absolute havoc on scheduling.
Sword of Justice
Colin Windon (37)
It’s been a while so I’m not sure of their state but Grammar’s city fields have been used by Wales and NZ in the past. It’s probably the school gym that’s the bigger concern with such a large touring squad but they could probably just take over the indoor courts/nets/gymnasium. The Grammar curators are mad scientists so they can fix up the pitches no worries.
upthereds#!
Peter Johnson (47)
Churchie is a good option
Very secure and private at the back of the school down a private road to the car park, all the facilities there including catering kitchens, function room, medical rooms and change rooms at the main oval which is past another gate on what is essentially an island. 200m walk from the big gym whichh is also on an oval.
Springboks used it.
Tomikin
David Codey (61)
yeah I heard dubbo has a sand hockey pitch they can train on, cold as fuck and they have a few caravan parks to bunk up in.
Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
Interesting tidbit at the end of this article about Hooper maybe playing for the combined ANZAC side:
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
I hope they're not too restrictive about keeping Wallabies out of the tour games, particularly with them all being played beforehand, but I understand the need to protect those front line guys.
I do really love the idea that some of these players they pull in for the ANZAC game will also turn out for a super side though, might double as a bit of a recruitment opportunity to see if they're keen to return to the fold ahead of the home world cup.
His World Cup and Olympics went up in smoke. Will Hooper finally get a farewell against the Lions?
Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is making a professional comeback in Japan, and it’s opened the door for a role in the massive British and Irish Lions tour later this year.
I hope they're not too restrictive about keeping Wallabies out of the tour games, particularly with them all being played beforehand, but I understand the need to protect those front line guys.
I do really love the idea that some of these players they pull in for the ANZAC game will also turn out for a super side though, might double as a bit of a recruitment opportunity to see if they're keen to return to the fold ahead of the home world cup.