B&I Lions Press launch for 2013

[Slipper1]

Taken from a HSBC Press release...

HSBC ANNOUNCED AS PRINCIPAL PARTNER TO THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR TO
AUSTRALIA IN 2013
Issued on behalf of British & Irish Lions

British & Irish Lions will also play first ever game in Hong Kong, facing
the Barbarians in Tour opener

Andy Irvine announced as Tour Manager to Australia in 2013, with Gerald Davies becoming Chairman of British Lions Limited.

(London – 18th October) - The British & Irish Lions today announced that
HSBC has renewed their sponsorship to be Principal Partner to the British &
Irish Lions. The partnership, which will run until the end of the next
Lions Tour to Australia in 2013, continues the successful association
between the prestigious touring side and the bank that was first signed in
2007. The agreement means that HSBC are the first Principal Partner to ever
renew a sponsorship with The Lions and will see the bank become shirt
sponsor of the team once again. The partnership was formally announced at a
joint media conference with the British Lions Limited (BLL) committee at
HSBC Private Bank in London.

At today’s media conference, BLL also announced that for the first time
ever The Lions will play a game in Hong Kong, facing the Barbarians in what
promises to be a historic curtain raiser to a hotly anticipated Tour.

BLL confirmed that former Lion and Scotland international, Andy Irvine, who
made an amazing 41 appearances (36 provincial + 5 Tests) for The Lions,
will be Tour Manager to Australia in 2013, taking over from Gerald Davies,
who performed the role during the Tour to South Africa last year. Davies,
the flying Welsh winger and a Lion in 1968 and 1971, was in turn appointed
Chairman of BLL.

Sandy Flockhart, Executive Director for HSBC Holdings plc, said: “We are
delighted to renew our association with one of the world’s greatest ever
sporting events. Today’s announcement is a demonstration of the continued
international appeal of the British & Irish Lions, and HSBC is committed to
building on the successful relationship that was forged on last summer’s
Tour to South Africa. I have no doubt that the next three years will be an
exciting journey for both HSBC and The Lions, and in particular we are
looking forward to welcoming The Lions and the Barbarians to Hong Kong, the
bank’s spiritual home, for an historic fixture.”

John Feehan, Chief Executive of BLL and 6 Nations, said: “It is a mark of
the partnership that we have built with HSBC that we are able to announce
this sponsorship renewal almost three years ahead of the next Tour to
Australia. We look forward to working with HSBC over the coming months to
ensure that The Lions Tour to Australia in 2013 is a success off the pitch,
as well as on it. To be able to confirm today that The Lions will also
break new ground with the first ever fixture in Hong Kong will ensure that
the Tour to Australia is even more special and includes even more fans”.

“I would also like to congratulate Andy Irvine and Gerald Davies on their
appointments today, and believe that The Lions will benefit hugely from
having two highly regarded and respected former Lions at the helm for the
build up and during the Tour to Australia.”

Andy Irvine, who represented The Lions in 1974, 1977 and 1980 scoring 257
points, said: “I feel honoured and privileged to be able to take on the
role of Tour Manager for our 2013 visit to Australia. Last year’s Tour was
a phenomenal showcase for rugby, and I look forward to upholding the best
of Lions traditions when we travel to the home of the Wallabies for what
will be a fantastic experience. In the meantime, I can’t wait to get my
teeth into the planning and logistics that will be so crucial to the
success of the Tour over the next two and a half years.”

Gerald Davies, who as Tour Manager in 2009 helped shape one of the most
memorable Test series in modern times, said: “It is a huge honour for me to
continue my long association with The Lions as chairman for the 2013 Tour
to Australia. The Lions remains one of the greatest adventures in modern
rugby and I look forward to once again sharing in the unique spirit and
prestige of The Lions.”

John Spencer, Chairman of the Barbarians, is excited about the Tour
curtain-raising game in Hong Kong: “The Barbarians and The Lions have a
rich history and both share a unique place in the game of rugby. To bring
two such sides together and be able to create history in Hong Kong is very
special indeed, and it will be an incredible occasion and the perfect way
to kick off the 2013 Lions Tour. We are proud and delighted to be part of
such an innovative chapter in Lions history and are already looking forward
to the match.”

Trevor Gregory, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union said: “It is a
great honour to welcome the legendary Lions and the Barbarians to Hong Kong
in 2013. The match will be another milestone for Hong Kong Rugby and I am
confident that our fans, and those from around the world, will enjoy this
unique opportunity to witness the world's top players lining up for sides
that have played such a definitive role in rugby history. When you throw in
Hong Kong's reputation as one of the most famous - and festive - of global
rugby destinations, rugby magic is in the making.”

Four former Lions – Simon Shaw, Gavin Hastings, Jamie Roberts and Tommy
Bowe – attended today’s announcement, representing the unique spirit of The
Lions in combining four home countries in one.

Gavin Hastings, who played in all three Tests in the victorious series
versus Australia in 1989, said: “The Lions Tour is as special an occasion
as there is in the world of rugby. Touring as a Lion and winning the Test
series in Australia in 1989 was without doubt one of the highlights of my
career. Having witnessed firsthand how hard a place it is to tour, I am
looking forward to another closely fought series in 2013. It is also
fantastic that HSBC will once again be sharing in The Lions journey having
brought so much to the 2009 Tour.”

Simon Shaw, who was a key part of The Lions squad in 2009, and also toured
in 1997 & 2005, said: “Having finally experienced the intensity of a Lions
Test series last year in South Africa, I know how special the reputation
and history of The Lions is. The 2013 Tour will be no different, and to add
a fixture in Hong Kong means that once again The Lions are breaking new
ground. I wish I was a bit younger so that I had a real shot of going on
tour to Australia but I will certainly be watching with huge interest.”

Jamie Roberts, another who starred on his first Lions Tour in South Africa
last year and was voted as HSBC Player of the Series, was excited by the
prospect of a Lions Tour to Australia: “There is no greater incentive for a
player from the home Unions than to earn selection for the British and
Irish Lions and today’s event makes the 2013 Tour feel that little bit
closer. It will be an amazing Tour and I very much hope to be involved as a
player if selected.”

Tommy Bowe, who played in all three Lions Tests in 2009, was equally
enthused: “The Lions Tour to Australia is a mouth watering prospect; I will
be going all out to ensure my involvement in another chapter of Lions
history. For HSBC to be supporting this Tour once again and for a match to
be played in Hong Kong are both hugely exciting developments. I can’t wait
for 2013 to come round and in the meantime I will be doing my best to earn
my spot on the plane to Australia.”

[Armchair]

Have the savings plan started all ready for this, a stop over in Hong Kong will be a brilliant option now!

[Darce]

Hong Kong sounds like an awesome idea

[sheepshagger]

Will be a lot cheaper and safer to DIY than SA was last year.

[Darce]

Tickets will be easier to get too, I should imagine, given that its Australia

[Armchair]

The Lions are unlikely to appoint a home nations coach to lead the 2013 Lions and will only pursue Warren Gatland if he can agree a break clause with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Tour manager Andy Irvine has revealed that the Lions committee have major reservations about selecting a head coach who will also be involved in the Six Nations earlier that year.


However, talks are planned with the WRU over the possibility of securing Gatland on a temporary basis should he be identified as the right man.


Only yesterday Gatland agreed a new contract extension that will see him remain head coach until 2015 and the WRU's response is unlikely to be positive.

'It's not feasible for a head coach to run the national side in the Six Nations prior to the tour because it would be asking too much,' said Irvine.

'The national sides would probably baulk at that idea anyway because their national coach's eye would be taken off the ball.


'We'll be speaking to the WRU to see what level of commitment Warren must give to them as opposed to the Lions. It's theoretically possible to coach the Lions and be the head coach of a national side in the Six Nations immediately prior, but it's unlikely.

'If we weren't looking for a complete release of Warren by the WRU, then we'd certainly want a partial release.'

The outstanding candidate, however, remains Ian McGeechan who could yet return for his eighth Lions tour.

The 63-year-old Scot announced South Africa last year would be his final hurrah with the elite of British and Irish rugby, but reports state he is ready to reverse his decision.


'Geech has to be a consideration. If he rules himself out I wouldn't want to put any pressure on him,' said Irvine.

'Whoever coaches the Lions has to want to do it, but if Ian throws his hat into the ring we'd seriously have to look at it.'

Irvine revealed the Lions could conceivably tour Argentina in 2021 and admitted the Pumas sprang a surprise when the side fought out a brutal 25-25 draw in Cardiff as a warm-up for the 2005 tour.

'The Lions have a role to play in trying to promote the game in the world,' he said.


'If Argentina continue improving the way they are, it would be so disrespectful not to include them. The International Rugby Board would put pressure on the Lions to include Argentina and that's correct - they're a good side.

'Argentina surprised us in 2005. We thought we'd win comfortably but they gave us hell of a fright.


'I think that was the game that put Argentina on the map. Since then they've hardly looked back and now have huge credibility.'

McGeechan hinted that his determination to end his Lions association is already wavering.

'Your enthusiasm for the Lions doesn't change,' he told the Daily Telegraph website.

'I've yet to speak to Andy about any of this. I need to have those sort of conversations. I know what I said at the time but here we are, talking about it, and it all starts to look exciting again.'

[BlueArmyOriginal]

Definately looking into this one! What could be better than a month-long roadtrip round Australia taking in a Lions Tour! Any idea when we can expect a fixtures list?

[aisling7]

Definately looking into this one! What could be better than a month-long roadtrip round Australia taking in a Lions Tour! Any idea when we can expect a fixtures list?

Provisional Dates here:

http://www.gulliverstravel.co.uk/rugby/ ... lions-2013

[CiaranIrl]

Strange that nobody is mentioning Kidney as a possible candidate for head coach.

Heaslip for captain anyone?

Miles away, I know...

[Scott]

Strange that nobody is mentioning Kidney as a possible candidate for head coach.

Heaslip for captain anyone?

Miles away, I know...

Would have to step down as Ireland coach

[dod]

What's the process for getting tickets for the tour if ur doing it yourself as opposed to a travel agent. I take it that it's not the irfu.

[Ultra Vires]

Strange that nobody is mentioning Kidney as a possible candidate for head coach.

Heaslip for captain anyone?

Miles away, I know...

Really?

I know it was written in 2010 but you must feel kinda silly now when you read your comment again!?

[Peg Leg]

Strange that nobody is mentioning Kidney as a possible candidate for head coach.

Heaslip for captain anyone?

Miles away, I know...

Really?

I know it was written in 2010 but you must feel kinda silly now when you read your comment again!?

Do you not remember Kidney's record in 09', no?

[Ultra Vires]

Strange that nobody is mentioning Kidney as a possible candidate for head coach.

Heaslip for captain anyone?

Miles away, I know...

Really?

I know it was written in 2010 but you must feel kinda silly now when you read your comment again!?

Do you not remember Kidney's record in 09', no?

I sure do. And hindsight is a wonderful thing. But being touted as the Lions coach when he led Ireland into the abyss in the meantime...