The Lions awards: NIK SIMON picks his top players, tries and laughs from a memorable tour Down Under - and shares his wishes for 2029

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

The 2025 British & Irish Lions' tour of Australia ended in resounding success, with the tourists clinching a 2-1 series victory.
It marked the Lions' first series win over Australia since 2013 and their first tour triumph under Andy Farrell's leadership.
The opening Test in Brisbane saw the Lions explode out of the blocks with a commanding display, while the second Test delivered even more drama, as the Lions clawed back from an 18-point deficit to snatch a last-gasp win.
While Farrell's side were unable to clinch the first 3-0 clean sweep for a Lions side since 1927, this tour was not short of memories.
The Lions next tour is a highly anticipated 2029 visit to New Zealand, where they will contest a series against the All Blacks.
Here, Mail Sport's Nik Simon looks at some of the milestones from the Lions' recent trip down under.
Best player
There is a compelling case for Finn Russell to be recognised as the best No 10 in the world right now. He lit up games with his nonchalant swagger, now underpinned by assured game management. The series win rounds off the best season of his career.
Best try
Tom Wright's score in the second Test ripped up the entire tour narrative. Attacking from their own 22, the Wallabies turned into the galloping golds of a different era. Joseph Suaalii cut open the midfield and Wright finished a flowing move that left 90,000 fans in a state of shocked delirium.
Best atmosphere
The MCG was the loudest stadium but it was the walk down Caxton Street to the first Test in Brisbane where the sea of red burst into life. With timber-frame buildings and music pumping out of every bar, it felt like we were on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans.
Best accessories
After the defining victory in Melbourne, Sione Tuipulotu's family decked out the players in celebratory garlands. Rooted in Pacific Island culture, each player's garland had around 25 chocolate bars stitched on to it, ranging from KitKats to Caramel Wallabies.
Funniest moment
The stadium announcer in Perth kicked off the tour with a bang when he introduced the Lions before kick-off. 'The Aussie at No 14, Mack Hansen. Another Aussie at No 12, Sione Tuipulotu. At No 11, the Kiwi now Irishman, James Lowe. At prop, the former SA schoolboy now Scotsman, Pierre Schoeman.' A rare sprinkling of salt on an otherwise mild-mannered tour.
Best opposition player
Man-mountain Will Skelton was a colossus for the Wallabies. He changed the narrative with his physicality, with the Wallabies leading the aggregate score when he was on the pitch. If he had been fit to play in the first Test and lasted longer in the second, the series could well have had a different outcome.
Best journey
As part of the Roar and Uncut video series, we hitched a lift from Newcastle to Canberra with three fans from Long Eaton RFC; Brooky, Daz and Aidy. We broke down and had to crawl down the hard shoulder at a snail's pace but it was full of fun, friendship and laughter. A reminder of the true essence of touring.
Most popular tourist
Bundee Aki was the man at the heart of the raucous celebrations when the Lions wrapped up the series in Melbourne. He led the team on a two-day party, with some moral support from Mack Hansen. He has been chairman of the fines committee, leading the team's infamous kangaroo courts.
In the 2029 series against New Zealand, I want to see less second-half blowouts in the warm-up matches
Least like to be stuck in a lift with
I was staying in the same hotel as the Pasifika XV when they played the Lions in Melbourne. Taniela Tupou stepped into the same lift as me, heading up to the 18th floor, and it's safe to say there wasn't much breathing space after a few of his team-mates joined.
Wish for the 2029 series
Let's make sure the provincial teams come out fully loaded so we have jeopardy from start to finish. There were too many second-half blowouts in the warm-up matches. It would also be superb to see a match played in the Pacific Islands, just a short flight from New Zealand.