Lions Tour 2025

[Sword of Justice]

On a positive tour note in general, it has been good to see Brisbane fully buzzing with Lions and Wallabies supporters from essentially Thursday until today.

Brisbane CBD isn't exactly busy during the weekend these days, but yesterday (Sunday) in particular the whole place was chockers, lots of fans out enjoying the good weather.

Caxton Street publicans and the surrounds would have been chuffed as they were essentially packed to the brim from Friday through till the wee hours of Sunday morning.

A lot of the UK touring parties I chatted with are now moving either up to the Sunny Coast or down to the Gold Coast for a couple of days before flying down for the second test.

Yeah it was an absolutely fantastic feeling and unique to our sport. Melbourne people should let themselves feel excitement for it.

 

[Adam84]

The money pouring in is pretty crazy, especially with the exchange rate being very generous at the moment.
I had a chat to a few Lions tourists who had been in Brisbane for a week and had done little day trips and were just handing over cash at restaurants and pubs.

 

[PhilClinton]

The money pouring in is pretty crazy, especially with the exchange rate being very generous at the moment.
I had a chat to a few Lions tourists who had been in Brisbane for a week and had done little day trips and were just handing over cash at restaurants and pubs.

Was pretty funny talking to a couple of blokes who'd spent most of their time at Felons during the week and their mates took them to the Newmarket Hotel over the weekend where a beer was literally half the price.

Until then, they'd though all Brisbanites were millionaires to be able to afford $22 pints all day.

 

[Wilson]

This should have a pretty positive flow on for the world cup too, it's very direct evidence of the benefits on offer for major rugby events and it should see the state governments and city councils pretty keen to maximise the benefits they get by embracing the event.

 

[Adam84]

Was pretty funny talking to a couple of blokes who'd spent most of their time at Felons during the week and their mates took them to the Newmarket Hotel over the weekend where a beer was literally half the price.

Until then, they'd though all Brisbanites were millionaires to be able to afford $22 pints all day.

and to be fair, Felons beer is pretty shit.... just a mint location

 

[Sword of Justice]

I’ve been struggling to put my finger on it because the whole feel was very different to other large sporting events. I think there’s a combination of the both sets of fans feeling that it is genuinely special and should be cherished as well as the undeniable opportunity of about 30-40k tourists able to enjoy cities that have the capacity to host big sporting events. I mean, how must it feel to know you can rock up to pretty much anywhere and just know that you’ll have some friendly people there for the exact same reason ready to spend on beer?

Word that comes to mind is pilgrimage.

 

[Ignoto]

I'm sick of all the gushing over soap dodgers.

I sat next down to a Kiwi lad at the game by himself. Recently moved over, was where the AUNZ jersey, he was screaming at B'OK and Gordon as he relentlessly put up another poor box kick like I was. Was fantastic to just chat rugby and even he was keen on see the Kiwis adopt the combined team in 4 years.

I considered him a brother in arm, until he told me he ran out in the blue and white stripes of Brothers...........

 

[PhilClinton]

I’ve been struggling to put my finger on it because the whole feel was very different to other large sporting events. I think there’s a combination of the both sets of fans feeling that it is genuinely special and should be cherished as well as the undeniable opportunity of about 30-40k tourists able to enjoy cities that have the capacity to host big sporting events. I mean, how must it feel to know you can rock up to pretty much anywhere and just know that you’ll have some friendly people there for the exact same reason ready to spend on beer?

Word that comes to mind is pilgrimage.

Yes the fan engagement is top notch, and funnily enough the opposition players themselves enjoy coming here quite a bit because they can also go incognito mode for a while.

Mates who were in Adelaide for the AUNZ game had a good yarn with Owen Farrell whilst grabbing a coffee one morning and he was saying for the touring European teams in general, Australia is good to visit because day to day they can live a pretty normal life as rugby folk aren't as immediately recognised here.

 

[LeCheese]

Mates who were in Adelaide for the AUNZ game had a good yarn with Owen Farrell whilst grabbing a coffee one morning and he was saying for the touring European teams in general, Australia is good to visit because day to day they can live a pretty normal life as rugby folk aren't as immediately recognised here.

Yep - Tuipulotu and a few other higher-profile Lions players went unnoticed by 95% of people at the establishment in the Valley I ended up at post-match

 

[Giulia]

I’ve been struggling to put my finger on it because the whole feel was very different to other large sporting events. I think there’s a combination of the both sets of fans feeling that it is genuinely special and should be cherished as well as the undeniable opportunity of about 30-40k tourists able to enjoy cities that have the capacity to host big sporting events. I mean, how must it feel to know you can rock up to pretty much anywhere and just know that you’ll have some friendly people there for the exact same reason ready to spend on beer?

Word that comes to mind is pilgrimage.

I went up to Brisbane. Definitely an event feel with so many people from not Brisbane (me) going out of their way to be there visiting a stadium they've never been to (also me). By the time I flew home to Melbourne last night even though I'm Australian I was thinking "You've never been to Africa and 2033 sounds as good a time as any".

 

[Giulia]

On a positive tour note in general, it has been good to see Brisbane fully buzzing with Lions and Wallabies supporters from essentially Thursday until today.

Brisbane CBD isn't exactly busy during the weekend these days, but yesterday (Sunday) in particular the whole place was chockers, lots of fans out enjoying the good weather.

Caxton Street publicans and the surrounds would have been chuffed as they were essentially packed to the brim from Friday through till the wee hours of Sunday morning.

A lot of the UK touring parties I chatted with are now moving either up to the Sunny Coast or down to the Gold Coast for a couple of days before flying down for the second test.

As a visitor staying in the CBD it stood out how many convenience stores were shut.

 

[Brumby Runner]

This should have a pretty positive flow on for the world cup too, it's very direct evidence of the benefits on offer for major rugby events and it should see the state governments and city councils pretty keen to maximise the benefits they get by embracing the event.

And then there's the ACT Govt.

 

[Spamnoodle]

Was pretty funny talking to a couple of blokes who'd spent most of their time at Felons during the week and their mates took them to the Newmarket Hotel over the weekend where a beer was literally half the price.

Until then, they'd though all Brisbanites were millionaires to be able to afford $22 pints all day.

It's not called Felons for nothing.

 

[Spamnoodle]

I’ve been struggling to put my finger on it because the whole feel was very different to other large sporting events. I think there’s a combination of the both sets of fans feeling that it is genuinely special and should be cherished as well as the undeniable opportunity of about 30-40k tourists able to enjoy cities that have the capacity to host big sporting events. I mean, how must it feel to know you can rock up to pretty much anywhere and just know that you’ll have some friendly people there for the exact same reason ready to spend on beer?

Word that comes to mind is pilgrimage.

The World Cup in New Zealand, the whole of NZ felt that way. Was awesome.

 

[Dan54]

I considered him a brother in arm, until he told me he ran out in the blue and white stripes of Brothers...........

Great to hear you got standards Reds Brother FFS

 

[Dan54]

Geez Brian Moore is suggeting that perhaps this is last Lions tour to Aus, and is suggesting maybe USA?? F*** me, surely just trying to stir up pot , and try and get name press more? Only sensible thing he says, is although PIs and Argentina would be good, there no money in it.

 

[Wilson]

I find these discussions about the next tour to Australia not happening based in performance terms incredibly silly right now. It's 12 years away and the Lions won't be making decisions or signing contracts until around 2032, with 2 world cups between now and then. Australian rugby could be riding high off the benefits of a lions tour into a home world cup, they could've squandered it all and collapsed, or anywhere in between. The state of the game here at that point is going to have a hell of a lot more bearing than what happens on the field over the next two weeks.

And that's all aside from what will be the real, lasting take away from this tour - a combination of unprecedented financial success and an ideal touring location that is very hard for New Zealand, South Africa or any new destination to match.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Have you considered that Brian Moore is trying to wind us Aussies up as much as our ground announcers are with the Tuipolutu from Australia stuff?

 

[Wilson]

Have you considered that Brian Moore...

Personally I try to consider Brian less

 

[Dan54]

I find these discussions about the next tour to Australia not happening based in performance terms incredibly silly right now. It's 12 years away and the Lions won't be making decisions or signing contracts until around 2032, with 2 world cups between now and then. Australian rugby could be riding high off the benefits of a lions tour into a home world cup, they could've squandered it all and collapsed, or anywhere in between. The state of the game here at that point is going to have a hell of a lot more bearing than what happens on the field over the next two weeks.

And that's all aside from what will be the real, lasting take away from this tour - a combination of unprecedented financial success and an ideal touring location that is very hard for New Zealand, South Africa or any new destination to match.

I agree with you Wilson, he reckons he been talking to a couple of committee members from the Lions. this is what he wrote, I genuinely think he trying to get clicks on paper website etc.

“I am aware from speaking to several Lions’ committee members that there have been discussions about whether to strike out in different directions in the future,” he began.

“The problem is that South Africa and New Zealand will remain premier touring destinations, so you are talking about a once-in-every-12-years tour. It might be that Australia has recovered its place at rugby union’s top table by then – but what if things go backwards?

As I said he then mention USA, so I go along with Strewth !