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Row over the Gatland Lions recce in Guernsey continues to rumble

By Sam Smith
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Any hope that the controversy surrounding the two-day Easter weekend visit by Lions boss Warren Gatland to Guernsey would go away quietly has been dashed as organisers of the trip have now had to issue further details about what the Kiwi did while on the Channel Island inspecting rugby and hotel facilities. 

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Gatland is on the lookout for a pre-tour base for his still-to-be-selected touring squad before they head to South Africa for their July Test series versus the Springboks. However, his trip to Guernsey didn’t prove universally popular as he was allowed to skip strict quarantine requirements. 

Some locals were vocal in criticising the visit by Gatland, given the quarantine requirements that other visitors must undergo, and it has now forced organisers to issue a statement after it emerged they ate meals with the Lions boss while he was on the island.

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“While room service was the primary mechanism for meals during his stay, during one meeting at the rugby club (at Footes Lane) a selection of sandwiches were served as Mr Gatland met a small number of people in a large room, socially distanced with hand sanitiser available.

“This included Deputy (Peter) Ferbrache, the States chief executive, and the director of Public Health (Dr Nicola Brink) to explain Guernsey’s response to Covid-19, our current circumstances, potential public health measures if the Lions decided to visit and to discuss the facilities.

“A further single meal was allowed to take place in a private dining room at the hotel where Mr Gatland was staying. This was for a small number of guests, including local sports representatives and the States chief executive (Paul Whitfield) to further discuss logistics of how a potential visit could work. Again, this occurred only after Mr Gatland had received a negative test result that day. As such there was no public health risk.”

No decision on what the Lions will do for their pre-tour preparations has yet been taken but there was apparently still a groundswell of support for Gatland’s tourists to come to Guernsey as a poll conducted by Guernsey Press on Wednesday received more than 400 votes with three-quarters of the respondents in favour of hosting the rugby training camp. 

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 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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