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Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
View from Down Under: The Lions are very welcome guests, but they could do their hosts more harm than good
Since the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in Australia three weeks ago, the sword of Damocles has been hovering over the heads of the Wallabies and never more so than in the Test week. The Lions are a unique guest to host. On the positive side of the ledger, their visit comes once every 12 years and they come laden with financial benefits, attention for rugby and some of the finest players in the world. However, this guest is also keenly aware of their own value and the desire from others to host them at any time. French Rugby Federation vice-president Abdel Benazzi is reportedly travelling to Melbourne next week to engage with Lions officials about the suitability of hosting the world's most famous touring team. It's hard to blame the former flanker, given that his federation is facing a minimum loss of €19.2 million, potentially rising to €28.9 million after hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The romanticism of the Lions and its rich tradition has faded, replaced by cold, clear financial returns for both host and guest. According to the Australian Financial Review, the last Lions tour made €19.5 million profit for Rugby Australia and this tour could make more than €55 million. It is not yet clear what the Lions' profit will be, but comfortably, it will be far higher than previous tours of New Zealand and South Africa. READ MORE Slow Lions build-up finally culminates in Test week Listen | 37:54 If Australia has appeased the Lions with its financial clout, the Wallabies also need to fulfil the far more challenging role of being a competitive opponent in the Test series. A brutal whitewash will leave Rugby Australia far weaker at the negotiating table. At this stage, the Lions are not contractually locked into visiting the country again in 12 years' time. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt always knew he was facing the biggest challenge of his coaching career when he left his fishing rod and golf clubs in his garage at home in New Zealand to help save Australian rugby. Injuries to two of the most crucial parts of his Test jigsaw have made the job even more difficult. In Australia, traditionally, the Wallabies outhalf has been a role with a limited shelf life. Schmidt changed this by investing in Noah Lolesio, who blossomed under the former Ireland coach. After the narrow win against Fiji, Lolesio sadly underwent a spinal fusion procedure in a Brisbane hospital. Schmidt has now handed the playmaking keys to Tom Lynagh, son of the great Michael. Tom Lynagh has only played three Tests for the Wallabies and is now trusted as the man to pilot his country to victory in the city where his father remains a legend. Rob Valetini is Australia's best ball carrier but will be absent for the Lions tests through injury. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/Inpho The Wallabies have also lost their best ball-carrier, Rob Valetini, to injury. The giant flanker has been voted Australia's best player for the past two years. The Brumbies backrower complements the slick jackaling ability of Queensland's open side Fraser McReight perfectly. Valetini shovels opponents off the ball at the breakdown, allowing McReight to swiftly win penalties on the floor. [ Gordon D'Arcy: Time for Lions and Wallabies to leave the 'meh' behind and make some real magic Opens in new window ] Valetini is suffering from a calf strain and is joined on the treatment table by the mutual heft of La Rochelle lock Will Skelton and the Waratahs' best player this season, number eight Langi Gleeson. Schmidt has been forced to give a debut to the uniquely named Nick Champion de Crespigny. De Crespigny is an elite economics graduate and the grandson of Rafe Champion de Crespigny, a noted expert in ancient Chinese history. His aristocratic name and bearing belie an intensely physical player who McReight affectionately referred to as 'a psycho' when asked for a description for the gathered press. Australia's injury problems have led coach Joe Schmidt to call on Nick Champion de Crespigny. Photograph:The Wallabies traditionally have a strong record at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, but they will start this game as huge underdogs. The Lions have named a strong side, and off the field, there have been changes. All written press are now banned from the 10 minutes they used to get to watch the Lions training, although the Wallabies have not changed their policy. [ Farrell and Schmidt announce their opening hands as atmosphere builds in Brisbane Opens in new window ] At the Lions team announcement last Thursday in Adelaide ahead of the ill-fated game against the Australian and New Zealand selection, a child tried to ask a question, before being shut down by team management. Business before pleasure. To their credit, the Lions have started to open up slightly, hosting signing sessions in Brisbane for their thousands of fans and also despatching the amiable trio of Henry Pollock, Duhan van der Merwe and Josh van der Flier for the tough gig of being hosted by the Great Barrier Reef foundation on the famous coral. The preamble has almost been completed and the first Test is set. Australia are desperate to be perfect hosts, but they need to prove it where it matters most; not on spreadsheets, but on the pitch. In a country where rugby is frequently said to be hanging by a thread, a win against the odds in the first Test would be the true kiss of life.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Future British & Irish Lions tour of France on the agenda at Melbourne summit
A British & Irish Lions tour of France could move a step closer next week when executives hold talks over 'a new business model' in Melbourne before the second Test of the series against Australia. Abdel Benazzi, the vice-president of the French federation (FFR), held informal discussions with Lions executives in Dublin before the warm-up match against Argentina, and he will travel to Australia next week to further press his nation's claims of facing the touring side again, having previously done so in 1989. France have emerged as leading contenders to face the Lions in a warm-up match before the tour of New Zealand in 2029 and, according to Benazzi, could also fulfil the same role before the inaugural women's tour in 2027, also to New Zealand. More recently, however, there has been a groundswell of support for a tour of France, with leading Top 14 sides such as Toulouse and Bordeaux offering the prospect of competitive warm-up matches before a mouthwatering series against Les Bleus in contrast to the currently one-sided tour of Australia. The former Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips last week became the most recent former Lion to throw his weight behind the prospect, suggesting a tour of France would be a 'gamechanger'. Benazzi, who is also the president of the Six Nations and narrowly lost out to Brett Robinson in last year's election to be World Rugby chair, is seeking to make France regular opponents on the Lions' fixture list. Asked about the prospect of a future tour of his country, Benazzi said: 'If you look at the legacy and the reputation of the Lions, of course they have the tradition with the south, our position as a neighbour is that we can do something together in the future. 'We had contact, not formally, just a friendly chat with the guys from the Lions and they started thinking maybe it would be a good idea. We don't have a formal decision now but maybe we will talk about having two meetings with the [women] and the Lions and the men and the Lions in the future. Maybe in 2027 and 2029. We don't think of just one shot, we think of a programme for the future. It's good for everyone because it's powerful and we want to share it with this institution. 'I want to spend a bit of time with the staff and just think about how we can build a new business model with this institution between France and the Lions. For me and for France, we want to build something interesting for both. How we can build something bigger for rugby, for everyone around the world with this meeting and secondly, how we can build some business between the two institutions, the Lions and France, and everyone will be happy with that.' It is understood the Lions are open to exploring possibilities with France, which would provide an attractive option for supporters unable to afford expensive trips to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Benazzi was eager to stress that France are not looking to replace any of the three southern hemisphere nations but the FFR's interest increases the pressure on the Wallabies to be competitive against the Lions in the coming series. An agreement for the 2029 tour with New Zealand is considered a given but the Lions are not formally committed to tour South Africa in 2033 or Australia in 2037. Benazzi also believes the French public and players would fully buy in to the concept and expressed confidence an arrangement could be reached with the Top 14 to avoid clashing with the end-of-season run-in. 'We don't want to steal something from the south,' he added. 'We just want to do something extra. It's a legacy and that's very important but we have a lot of things to share together. Being neighbours is important for supporters. I spoke with an agency that brings a lot of people to Australia this year and they said to me it would be very good business for people coming from the UK to France. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'I think we missed a lot of time since 1989, not using our relationship but now we understand each other. I don't understand why we spent 40 years waiting to start contact with this institution. We want to be part of these meetings, this bold future for everyone. The public, the players, will be excited. They need some challenges like that. Of course we have to look after the health of the players and organise when you can do it but everyone wants to be a part of this experience.'
