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'I am not agreeing that the Lions have been suffocated' - MD believes tour still biggest thing in rugby
Managing director Ben Calveley maintains the British and Irish Lions have not been “suffocated” by their standing within the global game.
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On Wednesday, a one-off match against Japan at Murrayfield was announced to take place on June 26, 2021 ahead of the squad heading out to South Africa for a three-Test series against the world champions.
The game against the Brave Blossoms will, however, clash with next season’s Gallagher Premiership final, albeit the fact it is set to have a different kick-off time, and also falls outside of World Rugby’s Regulation 9 international window for Test matches.
As such, there is no current agreement in place which would see Premiership Rugby release players for the fixture.
Following the trip to New Zealand in 2017, a collective call was raised for more focused preparation time ahead of tackling such a prestigious series.
There was, though, no independent representation from the Lions to fight their corner in the discussions about the new global calendar.
Calveley insists everything is being done to make sure the squad get the best possible build-up to the opening Test against the Springboks, which is set for Johannesburg on July 24.
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“The schedule is different to those which we have seen before,” said Calveley, with only five warm-up games planned on the tour.
“One of the key points which (head coach) Warren (Gatland) raised with me very early on was he wanted more time with the players in between the fixtures.
“We have enabled the players to have longer to recover and prepare for the Test matches.”
Calveley added: “I am not agreeing that the Lions have been suffocated, but I do absolutely agree that it is the pinnacle. The game should and does, in many places, acknowledge that.
“We should do absolutely everything possible (to make sure) that the Lions have the opportunity to prosper and help grow the game in the ways which perhaps only the Lions can do.”
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The commercial appeal of a Lions tour is not lost on organisers, but there is likely to be a more consolidated approach to sponsor appearances in South Africa.
But the pre-tour fixture against Japan could well be viewed as the start of a movement to take the Lions to new territory around the globe.
“The Lions can offer an awful lot to the growth of the global game, and we should consider how best it can do that,” Calveley said.
“You have to think strategically about how the Lions can be used to help the game grow at international level.”
Head coach Warren Gatland is yet to finalise his backroom team for the trip to South Africa.
Scotland’s Gregor Townsend, who was not able to take up an invitation in 2017, and Ireland head coach Andy Farrell are among those said to be under consideration.
Calveley confirmed that, given the current climate, the appointments would be “made slightly later than they have been compared to the previous cycles”.
He said: “What Warren and I have been doing is getting around the head coaches and chief executives from the four unions, and they are all incredibly supportive, as you would expect them to be because they absolutely understand the value of the Lions. That process is ongoing.”
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter could be another potential candidate, along with Leicester’s Steve Borthwick, as the Lions look to gain every possible tactical advantage.
“I don’t think there is any assumption the coaches have to come from within the union constructs,” Calveley said. “They could come from a club environment, absolutely.
“We are very open and are interested in appointing coaches who can help us win matches in South Africa.
“Anyone that can help us win these Test matches would be interesting to Warren and ultimately it is his call who to have in his team.”
Discussions continue over a ‘behind-the-scenes’ series to follow on from the 1997 ‘Living With The Lions’ documentary, which could also have the potential to tell the story from both camps – with Amazon Prime one reportedly possible broadcast partner.
Tour organisers remain optimistic over the likelihood of Lions fans being able to make the journey out to South Africa, with some 15,000 having pre-registered for the official travel programme.
Be part of the 2021 British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa which is nearly sold out, book your ticket-inclusive packages before it’s too late with the comfort of our Covid guarantee and be part of the ultimate rugby experience. See our affordable packages here.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments