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Former Lions predict 'chaos' after Jason Leonard appointed Chairman of Lions

By Josh Raisey

A number of former Lions have given their verdict on what will ensue in the forthcoming British and Irish Lions tour in 2021, after Jason Leonard was appointed Chairman on Thursday.

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Leonard, known as ‘Fun Bus’, went on three Lions tours between 1993 and 2001, earning five caps, and will now preside over the tour of South Africa, a series which he won in 1997.

Many former players and journalists have not only congratulated Leonard on this appointment, but highlighted what a good appointment this has been.

The 114-cap prop said he was “thrilled, honoured and humbled” on Twitter, after the news was announced:

The Lions is a unique concept, which requires players who are bitter rivals for four years to unite as one. Very few sports have a similar event, and that is why it is one of rugby’s proudest traditions. Leonard is a character that embodies Lions tours, and for many he is the perfect man in charge of the series in 2021.

Leonard’s 14-year playing career straddled both the professional and amateur era, and he was well known to withhold many of the social aspects that were associated with the game before 1995. In a tour that can last almost two months, success on the pitch is often a byproduct of the environment created off it, and Leonard is the perfect candidate to facilitate that.

Many have predicted an eventful series for the players with Leonard at the helm, and this is what many in the rugby world have said over his appointment:

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https://twitter.com/MartinBayfield/status/1118851992166850560?s=20
https://twitter.com/talkMacca/status/1118851469833379845?s=20
https://twitter.com/rhillrugby/status/1118834987812446209?s=20
https://twitter.com/AndyNic9/status/1118835187423621120?s=20
https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1118864072685096960?s=20
https://twitter.com/andypowell8/status/1118835707903131649?s=20
https://twitter.com/ScottQuinnell/status/1118889034510680064?s=20
https://twitter.com/jimhamilton4/status/1118883186505846784?s=20

The Lions’ eight match tour of South Africa with be played in the summer of 2021, and will contain three test matches. They will be hoping to avenge their agonising series loss to the Springboks in 2009, and Leonard will be crucial in making sure that happens.

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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