Lions Tour 2025

[qwerty51]

Just don’t see it working that well, who wants to get injured in a meaningless game?

Is it more meaningless than a Super side v the Lions?

 

[dru]

Is it more meaningless than a Super side v the Lions?

Yes?

 

[PhilClinton]

Is it more meaningless than a Super side v the Lions?

Yep for sure. At least there’s some history to the Lions playing the provincial teams when they tour.

One of my favourite rugby memories is watching the Reds v Lions at sold out Suncorp in the nosebleeds.

 

[Wallaby Man]

Just don’t see it working that well, who wants to get injured in a meaningless game?

Personally I would fly from QLD to Melb to watch this.

As for player interest, this would be a career defining moment. There would not be a serious player running around that wouldn’t want the opportunity.

 

[Dan54]

Nah they’ve supported it… if the price is right, which reflects NZR these days:

“We’re aligned in principle,” Robinson said via email. “[It’s] early days however, with a lot of detail to be worked through around scheduling and in understanding commercials.”

Well do you think RA is doing it for anything but money , I suspect you living in a dream world. But no of course they only doing it for the joy of the game? I still say I dislike idea, and if being aligned in principle is still not what I like. Imagine you would of appluauded if NZR said it a numpty idea, and Hamish is crazy for coming up with it?

 

[Dan54]

Just don’t see it working that well, who wants to get injured in a meaningless game?

Exactly what 12 ABs said in 89 when they said no thanks.

 

[Adam84]

Well do you think Rugby Australia is doing it for anything but money , I suspect you living in a dream world. But no of course they only doing it for the joy of the game? I still say I dislike idea, and if being aligned in principle is still not what I like. Imagine you would have appluauded if NZR said it a numpty idea, and Hamish is crazy for coming up with it?

And yet I didn’t say any of this

I’ve said from the start that RA shouldn’t be sacrificing a home match just to share revenue with NZR, maybe if NZR weren’t such dicks in would support the concept.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Exactly what 12 ABs said in 89 when they said no thanks.

The '89 match was played in the middle of an AB v Argentina series & the AB were given the option to play or not, 12 deciding not. The '25 match IF it happens will presumably be played between the July inbound tour(s) & TRC so more likely to get players to front, I think.

 

[Dan54]

The '89 match was played in the middle of an AB v Argentina series & the AB were given the option to play or not, 12 deciding not. The '25 match IF it happens will presumably be played between the July inbound tour(s) & TRC so more likely to get players to front, I think.

Yep and players are now paid, so options maybe harder to take. As you say I see it betwen the inbound tours and RC, so maybe tack an extra game on tour, as I say probably mean any Anzac team will have only a couple of days together at best. Wallabies would of been playing the week before against Lions (I guess), and ABs would problably have the last test of their inbound tour too? Perhaps if the Lions stayed a couple of weeks longer so there was a break for both teams to build. but that would of course need the NH clubs to release their players for longer?

 

[Rebel man]

Personally I would fly from QLD to Melb to watch this.

As for player interest, this would be a career defining moment. There would not be a serious player running around that wouldn’t want the opportunity.

Would it? Nobody cared last time also winning a Bledisloe or a World Cup would be career defining.

 

[Adam84]

The '89 match was played in the middle of an AB v Argentina series & the AB were given the option to play or not, 12 deciding not. The '25 match IF it happens will presumably be played between the July inbound tour(s) & TRC so more likely to get players to front, I think.

Not to mention that comparing 1989 and 2025 is a bit silly as it ignores a multitude of variables like the game going professional

 

[Adam84]

Would it? Nobody cared last time also winning a Bledisloe or a World Cup would be career defining.

I think it would be a novelty, a bit like Barbarian matches. Cool to have to say you did it, but not exactly carefree defining.

 

[Dan54]

And yet I didn’t say any of this

I’ve said from the start that Rugby Australia shouldn’t be sacrificing a home match just to share revenue with NZR, maybe if NZR weren’t such dicks in would support the concept.

I agree RA shouldn't be sacrificing any home matches anyway, I would think 3 tests and games against Super teams are what I would want as an Australian fan. I guessing RA feels that getting NZR on board and sharing revenue is worth more money than a stand alone game is, though not sure if I would agree. I guess Hamish is seeing a 100,000 crowd all paying pretty big $s is worth more than want Aussie fans want? I not knocking him for that thought, he has to balance books like everyone, I just think it rich to say NZR are the ones with hands out after money and not both boards.

 

[Dan54]

Not to mention that comparing 1989 and 2025 is a bit silly as it ignores a multitude of variables like the game going professional

Yep as I said in post before, they get paid now, so options maybe harder to take? Anyway let's see what happens.

 

[liquor box]

Yep for sure. At least there’s some history to the Lions playing the provincial teams when they tour.

One of my favourite rugby memories is watching the Reds v Lions at sold out Suncorp in the nosebleeds.

On the last tour?

I still watch replays of that game, especially the first half every few months.

 

[Adam84]

On the last tour?

I still watch replays of that game, especially the first half every few months.

Yeah 50k fans crammed into Suncorp to watch the Queensland Reds vs B&I Lions.. That Luke Morohan try still gets highlight replays

 

[Adam84]

, I just think it rich to say NZR are the ones with hands out after money and not both boards.

I said they’ll do it if the price is right… I mean, this is the same NZR who were planning a cross code match vs the Kangaroos to be played in Australia… And NZR CEO Mark Robinson has already said they agree in principle to this match but want to see the commercial arrangement.

do you disagree that NZR would decline if the commercial arrangement suits them?

 

[Wallaby Man]

Would it? Nobody cared last time also winning a Bledisloe or a World Cup would be career defining.

Completely different universe we live in now to 1989. Being called up to this would add financial dollars to your next contract, let alone the prestige.

There has already been more chat around this in 24hrs than any single provincial game vs Lions would generate combined in the next 2.5yrs. That is the most telling aspect of why this would be a success. The game needs stories that capture the imagination. It’s even been discussed on my friends WhatsApp thread and they are a bunch of RL followers that might watch the odd rugby game.

 

[PhilClinton]

Completely different universe we live in now to 1989. Being called up to this would add financial dollars to your next contract, let alone the prestige.

I disagree. Being a capped Wallaby or All Black is already the pinnacle of the selection ladder in terms of what it would do for salary negotiations. And if the game is being marketed as 'the best' of the Wallabies and All Blacks, it'll be the blokes who are already in that upper echelon of salary brackets anyway.

Inventing a team doesn't make it prestigious. If it goes ahead, the team is being selected as a marketing gimmick. The players know this and would play because it would likely come with a decent pay packet for the one-off game.

 

[Dctarget]

I dunno, I reckon it would be pretty cool. Genia was just saying how much he used to care about being named in the best team of the week, this is even more bragging rights.