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In pictures: The 2021 Lions hold their first training session in Jersey

By Liam Heagney
Liam Williams (Photo by INPHO via Lions Rugby)

Twenty-five of Warren Gatland’s 2021 37-strong Lions squad have begun training on the Channel Island of Jersey for their eight-match, three-Test tour in South Africa.

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Despite a dozen other players being still involved in the Gallagher Premiership, Top 14 and Championship playoffs, Gatland got things motoring on Monday ahead of the June 26 preparatory game versus Japan at Murrayfield.

The 25 players were joined by Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher, who will train with the squad for the week before Jamie George and the rest of the five-strong Saracens contingent link up with the squad following the completion of their two-legged Championship final versus Ealing.

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RugbyPass is sharing unique stories from iconic British and Irish Lions tours to South Africa in proud partnership with The Famous Grouse, the Spirit of Rugby

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RugbyPass is sharing unique stories from iconic British and Irish Lions tours to South Africa in proud partnership with The Famous Grouse, the Spirit of Rugby

Other clubs with players still to assemble for the Lions in Jersey are Premiership semi-finalists Exeter (Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Sam Simmonds and Stuart Hogg), Sale (Tom Curry) and Bristol (Kyle Sinckler), along with Top 14 side Racing who will have Finn Russell involved in a French semi-final next weekend.

Meetings, gym work and a skills session filled Monday morning while the afternoon was taken up with a training run in 27-degree heat.

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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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