Relive the iconic memories of the Lions with the Daily Mirror's Special Edition
WHEN Andy Farrell's Lions head to Australia this summer you can guarantee iconic memories will be made.
Down the decades, pretty much in every single battle with New Zealand, South Africa and the Wallabies over the half century and more, the Lions have created a whole host of magical memories which have projected their players into rugby folklore.
As the great Martin Johnson once said, no-one remembers Six Nations or Tri-Nations matches from 12 years ago. Everyone recalls what happened with the Lions though, and stretching into yesteryear as well.
The iconic Class of 1971, dominated by a host of Welsh greats including Gareth Edwards, Barry John and JPR Williams, are still revered as the only team to beat New Zealand.
Fully 54 years on, their wonderful exploits still last the test of time.
Same with Willie John McBride's 1974 Invincibles, a barnstorming team who fought fire with fire. They introduced their famous '99' call to meet violence with violence, and played some truly dazzling rugby inbetween the chaos to emerge unbeaten on their South African tour.
Who can forget Finlay Calder's Class of 1989? 'Finlay's Fighters' they were dubbed, the only Lions team to lose the first Test and still emerge victorious after three epic battles with Australia.
How about Jeremy Guscott's drop goal to down world champions South Africa in 1997, a tour made even more momentous by the brilliant behind the scenes TV documentary which took us right inside the Lions team room.
We've witnessed the try-scoring emergence of Brian 'Waltzing O'Driscoll' versus the Wallabies in 2001, the huge controversy after he was spear- tackled out of the next tour in New Zealand, the brutal 2009 'Battle of Loftus Versfeld' with the Springboks, which saw five Lions stars hospitalised.
More recently, we've had further O'Driscoll controversy, an entire Irish nation outraged as he was axed from the final 2013 Test in Australia. Leigh Halfpenny rescued the day for Warren Gatland with a stunning solo show as the Lions romped to a resounding victory.
There was also what was dubbed 'the greatest piece of captaincy in rugby history' as Sam Warburton gently persuaded referee Roman Poite to backtrack on a penalty call which ensured a drawn rubber with New Zealand in 2017.
Amid all of that drama, particular Lions moments have rightly gone into rugby folklore. This Mirror special edition celebrates many of those incredible memories – the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly.
The Class of 2025 are about to make more iconic memories, building upon the many deeds of legends from the past who are featured in this special edition.
Relive the iconic memories of the Lions with the Daily Mirror's Special Edition
A host of moments have rightly gone into rugby folklore from those wearing the famous red jersey. This publication celebrates many of those incredible memories – the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly.
Pride of Lions will be on sale in participating retailers from May 14, 2025. You can buy it online here. Online postage and packaging costs apply.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
US Open second round as it happened – Rory McIlroy wins cut battle at Oakmont
The US Open continues today at the unforgiving Oakmont course in Pennsylvania. Irish hopefuls Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were paired together for the first two rounds but struggled until a late burst from McIlroy ensured he made the weekend while Shane Lowry failed to make the cut. Relive all the action as it happened here. 79 US Open Leaderboard - Day 2: Sam Burns -3 (65) J.J. Spaun -2 (74) Viktor Hovland -1 (68) Adam Scott E (70) Thomas Detry E (16*) Selected others: Scottie Scheffler +4 (71) Rory McIlroy +6 (72) Xander Schauffele +6 (74) Shane Lowry +17 (79) 9 minutes ago That's all for tonight folks! Read Brian Keogh's post-round summary here, as Rory McIlroy birdies two of his final four holes to make the weekend, where he will look for something in the 60s to give himself a chance on Sunday. Three players under par and so far this week, Oakmont is the real winner. Goodnight! Rory McIlroy overcomes club throwing and tee marker smashing tantrums to make US Open cut but Shane Lowry bows out Rory McIlroy 'helicoptered' a club 30 yards and smashed a tee mark in frustration but still brilliantly birdied two of his last four holes to make the cut in the US Open at a brutal Oakmont. 26 minutes ago Rory makes a brilliant birdie on 18 to make the weekend! After a 373 yard drive, McIlroy hits a brilliant wedge which catches the slope and moves to five feet below the hole...a dn he drains the putt to move to six-over-par and guarantees the world number two weekend golf. Its a two-over 72 to leave him on six-over-par, but what a battling round of golf around a really tough test. Can he post a score early tomorrow and make a run at getting back into this golf tournament. Who knows? Shane Lowry shoots an eight-over-par 79 and he will not be here at the weekend but he has a good laugh with his good pal as they exit the green. U.S. Open on Twitter / X See you this weekend, 2011 champion will make the cut at Oakmont. U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2025 31 minutes ago Oakmont and Thomas Detry in a nutshell U.S. Open on Twitter / X Golf is a crazy game, Detry's last three holes - double, double, birdieHe's back to even par. U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2025 37 minutes ago Thirston Lawrence makes double to move over-par, Detry birdies to get back to level par It's a horrible double on the par-five fourth hole for the South African and now there are only three players under par. Thomas Detry birdies the 7th to halt the double-bogey run and move back to level-par. 41 minutes ago Rory McIlroy, what a drive down the 18th! He needed a good drive and he launches it 373 yards down the fairway, leaving himself just 123 into the hole. Can he finish with a birdie? 43 minutes ago McIlroy's birdie putt on 17 slides by and he settles for par It was a fantastic bunker shot from Rory but his birdie putt slides by and he heads to the 18th seven-over-par, needing a par or better to make the weekend. A good drive and he can use the slope for his second, but he needs to find the fairway. 47 minutes ago Adam Scott shows his experience over first two days That's how you play Oakmont! 70-70 for Adam Scott and he is three back of the lead heading to the weekend. Can the 2013 Masters champion add the US Open to his collection. 52 minutes ago Rory takes chunk out of tee marker as his tee shot finds the trap, but he still has a birdie look. McIlroy's tee shot on the drivable 17th is in the deep front bunker, and he takes his frustration out on a tee marker. His bunker shot is good and it leaves him 12 feet for a crucial birdie. 54 minutes ago Second double in a row for Detry means only four players are under par Thomas Detry completely fluffs his chip on the par-three sixth, and his bogey putt slips by, and he drops one-over-par. Three doubles, a hole-out eagle, Oakmont gives you everything, and Detry has had it all. 58 minutes ago Burns is your solo leader after JJ Spaun bogeys 18 It's a horrible break for Spaun, as his ball hits the downslope and shoots long of the green leaving him an impossible chip, which he leaves short and two putts later, it's a bogey and a second round 72 to leave him two-under-par. He will still be delighted with his position heading into the weekend. Today 06:29 PM The putt that has Rory inside the cut-line He makes a really good two-putt par on the tough par-three he find a birdie on the drivable 17th? U.S. Open on Twitter / X A smile, and a 🐥, for Rory on the difficult par-4 15th gets him back inside the current cut line. U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 06:28 PM Lawrence drops to one-under after finding the church pew bunkers His fairway bunker shot is heavy and he leaves his chip eight feet short and the putt doesn't drop and he falls to one-under-par. He has had only two pars through 12 holes today. That's Oakmont for you! Today 06:26 PM Detry doubles to drop out of the lead It's a short miss for Detry at the fifth, his 14th and he falls to one-under-par, two back. Today 06:21 PM Bad run for Bryson ends his chances of making the weekend DeChambeau has a torrid spell, going double bogey-bogey-bogey to go from inside the cut line to 10-over-par and he will not be around for the weekend. Today 06:17 PM Lawrence bogeys to fall out of the lead, Detry birdies to join it! Lawrence fails to get out of the bunker, finding the rough and ends up with bogey to drop one back and Thomas Detry makes a birdie on the par-five fourth to join the lead. Today 06:13 PM Spaun drains it on the short 17th to join the lead once again U.S. Open on Twitter / X Bounceback birdie indeed! 🐥J.J. Spaun once again moves into a share of the U.S. Open lead. U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2025 Today 06:11 PM Rory drains a brilliant putt to move inside the cut mark! Another 20 footer goes down for Rory and he moves to seven-over-par, inside the cutline. The longer the putt, the more makeable it is for Rory it seems. Today 06:04 PM Another bogey for Spaun, who falls out of the lead The first round leader drops out of the lead to two-under-par with two bogeys in-a-row. Lawrence is also in trouble on the second, his 11th and soon Sam Burns could be in the lead on his own. Live Blog Software
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gibson-Park maintains Leinster have been improving and are peaking for Bulls
Leinster will take the field with nine Lions among their 13 Irish internationals, eight of whom are on IRFU central contact. Add the best All Black on the planet Barrett and Leinster's in-form but as yet uncapped Tommy O'Brien to make this Jake White has picked a forward-oriented side which has six Springboks in the side albeit none of the big RWC the forwards on the bench look a decidedly weak unit compared to the international Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Max Deegan it's ironic that South African rugby has revelled in the Bomb Squad notion, it is Leinster who actually have the heavyweights on the line - it has the ironic feel of somebody offering you an Irish whisky that's been made in talked up out-half Johan Goosen during the week and pointed out he was a teenage 'prodigy' but his career never panned is ability there but Rassie Erasmus hasn't touched him for eight years while scrum-half Embrose Papier is rated by Erasmus either and he hasn't been next nor year a Boks cap for six 'Boks stars in the back are just that, Willie le Roux and Can Moodie but an uncapped centre pairing in David Kriel and Harold Vorster are facing Ringrose and Barrett. "Physicality," says Leinster spinning-top, Six Nations star performers and assuredly Lions first choice no9 when asked to sum up the Bulls threat, "the physicality side of it."They fronted up hugely in a couple of big semi-finals against us previously and, as well as that, they've got a lot of firepower."Out the back there will be Willie Le Roux pulling the strings and although he is a no15 he steps up to first receiver a lot of the time and they've got some other unbelievable backs as well."Leinster, as a group, were not overly agitated by their 'performance' against Glasgow where, to be fair, they were out the gate at 37-5 up with 10 minutes left to play, the match finishing 37-19."From our point of view it was a better overall performance than the Scarlets quarter-final."There are a few different areas that we were happy with, like always a few areas to work on but I think overall the sense was that we're better than we were the week before."It's the final, there's a trophy on the line so it's going to be another level up. The Bulls have had experience in a few finals over the last number of years as well."So they'll be hungry and I think they'll be a different animal again but hopefully one would be ready for and it will be an exciting day in Croke Park."Meanwhile Stephen Ferris, a noted harsh critic of Leinster in the past - perhaps their harshest critic - can't see Bulls having enough to cause a surprise. 'The reality is it will be a huge, huge upset if the Bulls come to Dublin and overturn Leinster and win. "That would make it five years in a row that Leinster have finished a season without a trophy. There is so much to play for. There are so many elements to this Final, it should be a fire-cracker of a game.'There's brilliant match-ups all over the pitch but I can't look any further than the front row."Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels destroyed a World-Cup winning front row at Sharks last weekend - now they're up against expected Lions starter Andrew Porter as well as Dan Sheehan and Thomas Clarkson.'The Bulls are very set piece dominant. It's all about the scrum and big guys getting on top of the opposition, eking out penalties, getting good field position and trying to launch off it.' Beating Leinster wouldn't just be down to skill either, it would require a game plan and sticking to it when the heat comes on. 'They can't just give Leinster easy opportunities. It's going to be more about what's between the ears. 'The coaches will be trying to get the mental parity of their players right and to make sure they peak at the right time – to ensure they are not going through the motions but that the attention to detail is absolutely spot on. 'There are some key players for Bulls - Sebastian de Klerk for one, he is in fabulous form. Plus Johan Goosen at 10 who gives them that really strong kicking game and percentages as well." Former Ireland international Ferris is predicting the South African side won't be afraid of the 'three-six-nine' mantra. 'The thing about the Bulls is they are extremely efficient. Expect Bulls to take three points when they are on offer pretty regularly."They might only get three or four (tray-scoring) opportunities in a game - but they will take two of them, they have a high success rate. Leinster will have to sharpen up on their efficiency when they are in the right areas. 'The Bulls will be fully focused on trying to be physically dominant like they were last year, make impact tackles, back their defence and stop Leinster's big runners on the gain line and if they do that hopefully it will stem any flowing attack that Leinster might bring. "I see Leinster winning this by at least one score - I'd really like to see them lift the trophy.' Leinster (v Bulls, Croke Park, 5pm, Saturday, TG4, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT)Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jamie OsborneVodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canon Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Jan-hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (CAPT), Marcell CoetzeeReplacements: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Keagan Johannes, Devon WilliamsReferee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 55th league game).VERDICT: Leinster to win comfortably, Bulls don't have the bench to extend the game past the hour.
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leinster vs Bulls - the numbers game, how the teams stack up
Have some fun with the URC Grand Final between Leinster and Bulls at Croke Park today. Which team had scored the most tries, the most turnovers. Here we bring you the definite numbers breakdown for the big match 4 - There will be a fourth different winner in four seasons, following on from Glasgow (2024), Munster (2023) and Stormers (2022) 8 - Leinster are a record eight-times URC title winners 9 - The amount of lineout steals won by Max Deegan this season, RG Snyman and JF van Heerden have six each 10 - Jamison Gibson-Park's impressive number of try-assists 18 - Average defenders beaten by Bulls per URC game 19 - Canan Moodie has made the most line-breaks between the players on these two teams. Sebastian de Klerk has 18, David Kriel 15, Jamie Osborne and Tommy O'Brien 12 21.5 - Average defenders beaten by Leinster per URC game 32 - Italian referee Andrea Piardi's age. This is his third Grand Final and he will be in charge of the Australia-Lions second Test in July 43 - RG Snyman has made the most off-loads in the URC this season. It was enough to get him on the 2025 Dream Team. Jamie Osborne was the only other Leinster player to make the Dream Team. 80 - URC tries scored by Bulls this season, Canan Moodie top scorer with nine 89 - URC Tries scored by Leinster this season, Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osborne have seven apiece 98 - Average carries by Bulls per game, the lowest in the URC 136 - Average carries by Leinster per URC game 144 - Leinster have won more turnovers - 31 in the tackle, 33 lineout steals and 64 jackals - than any other team this season 151/152 - The side have met six times previously and while the Bulls have won four they have only managed one more point over all. the record against each other is Bulls 152, Leinster 151 359 - Defenders beaten by Bulls this season 429 - Defenders beaten by Leinster this season 609 - Points scored by Bulls this season 612 - URC points scored by Leinster this season 730 - Bulls Canan Moodie has made the most metres of any player in the two squads in the URC this season. Jamie Osborne is next with 709, Jimmy O'Brien 651, Sebastian de Klerk 616.
