Changes you would make for Future Lions Tours?

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What changes would you make to future Lions tours? any suggestions?

I think that the physical intensity and demands of the game are so tough now that future tours should really just include less fixtures - especially meaningless ones like Combined Country or Barbarians which dont add anything substantial.

I would like to see smallish, elite and exclusive Lions squads tour with three good warm up fixtures and then the three tests. Whats the point of calling up Williams, Barrit, Twelvetrees etc simply to play in a game in order to keep your main test team fit? Just get rid of the fixture. Clearly an player called up to the Lions should have quality already established so the warm up games are really about trying combinations rather than seeing who is good. And behind the scenes the training will be intensive in any case. Additional fixtures are just there to give some player a run out for the sake of it or to keep the test team fit.

Obviously the additional fixtures are viewed as money spinners but they just lead to second rate Lions teams being put out, more bloated squad demands and more injury risk. Id like to see the Lions kept elite and exlusive. 3 warm up games to get the best players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland blended into a team and then the test matches. No more washout fixtures or pointless second string midweek games.

Any other changes you would make?

kidwelly kid wrote:Put the matches back on terrrestrial TV with some decent commentators.

Exactly. Crown Jewels status for the Lions. You could start an epetition to lobby the government.

is crown jewel status any good?

Put crown jewel status on an event and there is no incentive for the BBC for instance to make any large bid for the rights, knowing it has only 3 other competitors (all with mid-small budgets compared).... and their bids are always smaller then sky's.

If people can't afford sky then just go down the pub to watch the games/your local rugby club/a mates. It makes an even more special anyhow.

Sky probably pays a lot for the rights and is an important part of the tour funding. Take that away and we may have to find alternative methods of financing.... the MacDonalds Lions??? The very thought makes me feel nauseous.

MacDonalds Lions is a serving suggestion.

Suitable for the fat cat himself.

At least get a highlights package on TV or show a couple of midweek games to get people and more importantly youngsters interested in the Lions.
 
I really hope BT PI SS all over Sky.

To avoid last a repeat of last Saturday's "Interpretationgate", ensure that the Test match refs have to be in charge of one of the warm up games.

Scarpia wrote:To avoid last  a repeat of last Saturday's "Interpretationgate", ensure that the Test match refs have to be in charge of one of the warm up games.

Thats a great call.

Perhaps we should just have universal laws and interpretations?

fa0019 wrote:Perhaps we should just have universal laws and interpretations?

You are a radical

Never going to happen.

steve jobs outside the box thinker right grey?

I enjoy watching the Lions games but think the premise of the tours is getting diluted, firstly because of the number of games played between HN and SH sides on an annual basis anyway - the idea of the tour isn't so relevant in the professional era, secondly I'm not sure it means as much to the players, it's a bit like playing in the Ryder Cup for golfers, it's a career achivement but it's not like winning a major. Finally the squad issue needs to be resolved so that on the one hand the "first choice" players are being selected for the highest honour in home nations rugby but the replacement call ups appear to be just added in.