Latest news with #WeGoBeyond
North Wales Chronicle
20-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
I'm all in – Australia-born Sione Tuipulotu eager to show Lions commitment
Amid ongoing debate about the selection of foreign-born players, the Glasgow centre is set to line up against his native Australia during this summer's Lions tour. Melbourne-born Tuipulotu, who made his international debut in 2021, is among seven members of Andy Farrell's 38-man squad who hail from overseas. We have Lions in the building! 😍🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 While five of those players are eligible for their adopted nations purely on residency rules, Tuipulotu qualified through ancestry. The 28-year-old's Greenock-born grandmother was at Murrayfield last autumn to see him score a try while leading Scotland to a 27-13 defeat of the Wallabies. 'I put so much on myself that I really wanted to be a Lion because I know how much it means to people over here,' said Tuipulotu, who initially feared his tour participation may be ruined by injury. 'I had gone all in with the stuff with Scotland and I just felt what better way to prove my allegiance to Scotland than go all in and try and make the Lions. That's why it meant so much to me. 'Genuinely early days you have that feeling of 'am I part of this?'. I always feel like talking about it is one thing but showing people how much it means to you in how you play (is another). 'When my gran came over before the Australia game, it allowed the public to put a face to the story and listen to my grandma and how much it meant to her. I think that gave eyes to the public that my story was authentic. 'I'm all in and I'm looking forward to showing how committed I am to playing for the Lions.' Tuipulotu is raring to go after returning from four months out with a pectoral issue during Glasgow's 13-5 defeat to Leinster on Saturday. Our Lions 🦁#AsOne #Lions2025 — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) May 13, 2025 He will be joined on tour by South Africa-born Scotland team-mates Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe and New Zealand-born Ireland trio Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park. Canberra-born Ireland wing Mack Hansen, whose mother comes from Cork, will also be on the plane back to his homeland. 'I've been nothing but embraced by the Scottish public ever since I started playing for Scotland,' said Tuipulotu, who has 30 Test caps. 'There's always going to be a couple of people (who criticise), like there are for some of the Irish boys, but I take that in my stride because I don't blame those people either. 'I didn't grow up dreaming of playing for Scotland or the Lions, that's the truth. 'But this is where my path has led me and I'm all in for this Lions team and for Scotland and for Glasgow, and I genuinely feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. 'I just want to grab this opportunity because I'll never get it again, to go back to Australia, and play for the Lions.' Ireland wing Lowe lined up against the Lions for the Maori All Blacks during the 2017 series in New Zealand. Our 2025 Lions! 🦁 #LionsRugby — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 8, 2025 The 32-year-old joined Leinster later that year and won the first of his 40 international caps in 2020. 'When you don't have the blood running through your veins, there's a little bit of that,' he replied when asked about his allegiance being questioned. 'When I was first selected for Ireland, all the people come out of the woodwork saying, 'how is this person representing Ireland?'. 'The rules were there. We've all done our time and we're fully embedded in the culture of Irish rugby.'
South Wales Guardian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
I'm all in – Australia-born Sione Tuipulotu eager to show Lions commitment
Amid ongoing debate about the selection of foreign-born players, the Glasgow centre is set to line up against his native Australia during this summer's Lions tour. Melbourne-born Tuipulotu, who made his international debut in 2021, is among seven members of Andy Farrell's 38-man squad who hail from overseas. We have Lions in the building! 😍🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 While five of those players are eligible for their adopted nations purely on residency rules, Tuipulotu qualified through ancestry. The 28-year-old's Greenock-born grandmother was at Murrayfield last autumn to see him score a try while leading Scotland to a 27-13 defeat of the Wallabies. 'I put so much on myself that I really wanted to be a Lion because I know how much it means to people over here,' said Tuipulotu, who initially feared his tour participation may be ruined by injury. 'I had gone all in with the stuff with Scotland and I just felt what better way to prove my allegiance to Scotland than go all in and try and make the Lions. That's why it meant so much to me. 'Genuinely early days you have that feeling of 'am I part of this?'. I always feel like talking about it is one thing but showing people how much it means to you in how you play (is another). 'When my gran came over before the Australia game, it allowed the public to put a face to the story and listen to my grandma and how much it meant to her. I think that gave eyes to the public that my story was authentic. 'I'm all in and I'm looking forward to showing how committed I am to playing for the Lions.' Tuipulotu is raring to go after returning from four months out with a pectoral issue during Glasgow's 13-5 defeat to Leinster on Saturday. Our Lions 🦁#AsOne #Lions2025 — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) May 13, 2025 He will be joined on tour by South Africa-born Scotland team-mates Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe and New Zealand-born Ireland trio Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park. Canberra-born Ireland wing Mack Hansen, whose mother comes from Cork, will also be on the plane back to his homeland. 'I've been nothing but embraced by the Scottish public ever since I started playing for Scotland,' said Tuipulotu, who has 30 Test caps. 'There's always going to be a couple of people (who criticise), like there are for some of the Irish boys, but I take that in my stride because I don't blame those people either. 'I didn't grow up dreaming of playing for Scotland or the Lions, that's the truth. 'But this is where my path has led me and I'm all in for this Lions team and for Scotland and for Glasgow, and I genuinely feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. 'I just want to grab this opportunity because I'll never get it again, to go back to Australia, and play for the Lions.' Ireland wing Lowe lined up against the Lions for the Maori All Blacks during the 2017 series in New Zealand. Our 2025 Lions! 🦁 #LionsRugby — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 8, 2025 The 32-year-old joined Leinster later that year and won the first of his 40 international caps in 2020. 'When you don't have the blood running through your veins, there's a little bit of that,' he replied when asked about his allegiance being questioned. 'When I was first selected for Ireland, all the people come out of the woodwork saying, 'how is this person representing Ireland?'. 'The rules were there. We've all done our time and we're fully embedded in the culture of Irish rugby.'
Leader Live
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
I'm all in – Australia-born Sione Tuipulotu eager to show Lions commitment
Amid ongoing debate about the selection of foreign-born players, the Glasgow centre is set to line up against his native Australia during this summer's Lions tour. Melbourne-born Tuipulotu, who made his international debut in 2021, is among seven members of Andy Farrell's 38-man squad who hail from overseas. We have Lions in the building! 😍🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 While five of those players are eligible for their adopted nations purely on residency rules, Tuipulotu qualified through ancestry. The 28-year-old's Greenock-born grandmother was at Murrayfield last autumn to see him score a try while leading Scotland to a 27-13 defeat of the Wallabies. 'I put so much on myself that I really wanted to be a Lion because I know how much it means to people over here,' said Tuipulotu, who initially feared his tour participation may be ruined by injury. 'I had gone all in with the stuff with Scotland and I just felt what better way to prove my allegiance to Scotland than go all in and try and make the Lions. That's why it meant so much to me. 'Genuinely early days you have that feeling of 'am I part of this?'. I always feel like talking about it is one thing but showing people how much it means to you in how you play (is another). 'When my gran came over before the Australia game, it allowed the public to put a face to the story and listen to my grandma and how much it meant to her. I think that gave eyes to the public that my story was authentic. 'I'm all in and I'm looking forward to showing how committed I am to playing for the Lions.' Tuipulotu is raring to go after returning from four months out with a pectoral issue during Glasgow's 13-5 defeat to Leinster on Saturday. Our Lions 🦁#AsOne #Lions2025 — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) May 13, 2025 He will be joined on tour by South Africa-born Scotland team-mates Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe and New Zealand-born Ireland trio Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park. Canberra-born Ireland wing Mack Hansen, whose mother comes from Cork, will also be on the plane back to his homeland. 'I've been nothing but embraced by the Scottish public ever since I started playing for Scotland,' said Tuipulotu, who has 30 Test caps. 'There's always going to be a couple of people (who criticise), like there are for some of the Irish boys, but I take that in my stride because I don't blame those people either. 'I didn't grow up dreaming of playing for Scotland or the Lions, that's the truth. 'But this is where my path has led me and I'm all in for this Lions team and for Scotland and for Glasgow, and I genuinely feel like this is where I'm supposed to be. 'I just want to grab this opportunity because I'll never get it again, to go back to Australia, and play for the Lions.' Ireland wing Lowe lined up against the Lions for the Maori All Blacks during the 2017 series in New Zealand. Our 2025 Lions! 🦁 #LionsRugby — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 8, 2025 The 32-year-old joined Leinster later that year and won the first of his 40 international caps in 2020. 'When you don't have the blood running through your veins, there's a little bit of that,' he replied when asked about his allegiance being questioned. 'When I was first selected for Ireland, all the people come out of the woodwork saying, 'how is this person representing Ireland?'. 'The rules were there. We've all done our time and we're fully embedded in the culture of Irish rugby.'
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Jamison Gibson-Park admits Leinster's European exit tempered Lions call-up joy
Jamison Gibson-Park admits the cruel timing of Caelan Doris' long-term injury combined with Leinster's shock European exit tempered the joy of his British and Irish Lions call-up. Scrum-half Gibson-Park is among 12 Leinster players selected by Lions head coach Andy Farrell for this summer's series against Australia. Provincial team-mate Doris would have increased that figure to 13 and was a leading contender to captain the side but faces four to six months on the sidelines after undergoing shoulder surgery. The Ireland skipper sustained the issue during Leinster's agonising 37-34 Investec Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton on May 3 – just five days before the Lions squad was announced. 'It was bizarre, to tell you the truth, it was an emotional rollercoaster,' Gibson-Park said of the days surrounding Lions selection. 'There's plenty going on, Caelan probably being the biggest one. It was unbelievably tough on him. 'He's been such a great player for club and country. He's had an unbelievable run with injuries and it's just the cruelty of the game sometimes. Ready for the players! 🔴🙌 #Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 'We were sickened for him, but in the same breath there's something there to celebrate. It was a pretty strange week.' Back-rower Doris performed post-match media duties following Leinster's loss to Northampton before the true extent of his injury emerged. England lock Maro Itoje was subsequently named Lions skipper by head coach Farrell. 'We were hanging on to hope, you never know until you get scans,' Gibson-Park said of Doris. 'We were hanging on to a little bit that it might not have been serious but unfortunately for him it was. 'His performances have been unbelievably consistent for a long time. Unbelievable from a leadership point of view, captain of club and country. 'He'll certainly be missed in both, he's a great fella, awesome fella to have around so he'll be missed.' Asked about the inquest into the Northampton defeat, Gibson-Park replied: 'Fairly bleak as you can imagine. You have to suck it up, take the learnings and move on.' Farrell's 38-man Lions squad assembled for the first time on Sunday morning in south-west London. Warm-up matches for the tour begin on June 20 when Argentina visit Dublin, with the three Tests against the Wallabies scheduled for July 19, 26 and August 2. New Zealand-born Gibson-Park, who made his Ireland debut in 2020 after qualifying on residency grounds, is the frontrunner to wear the Lions number nine jersey. Tomos Williams – one of only two Welshman in the squad – and England's Alex Mitchell are the other options. 'I'm looking forward to getting stuck in,' said Gibson-Park, who has 43 Ireland caps. 'A couple of unbelievable players, massive parts of the teams they play on. 'It will be awesome to spend some time with them and pick their brains. 'I wasn't really in the mix last time (the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa). I was a little bit far away. 'Once I started getting a bit more exposure at international level, it became a little bit real. From then on it's a massive aspiration. It's a cool thing to be able to say.'
South Wales Guardian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Ollie Chessum says British and Irish Lions meet-up ‘like a first day of school'
Andy Farrell's 38-man squad were kitted out on Sunday morning in south-west London – 10 days on from discovering news of their inclusion. The Lions' warm-up matches begin with a Dublin appointment against Argentina on June 20, with the first Test with the Wallabies scheduled for July 19 in Brisbane. Ready for the players! 🔴🙌#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 'I've chatted to a few of the boys, everyone's had a meet up and a coffee,' said Chessum. 'There's still a bit of awkwardness there, like a first day of school, but I'm sure everyone will settle in soon. 'We've got a team get-together tonight which will be good to get to know everyone better. 'It's pretty cool wearing the kit for the first time. 'This is the pinnacle of rugby for a UK and Irish based player. You want to be involved in those Test matches and the reason everyone is here is because they perform on the biggest stage.' Chessum is one of six second rows selected by head coach Farrell, alongside international team-mate and Lions captain Maro Itoje, Ireland trio Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan, and Scotland's Scott Cummings. The 24-year-old Leicester player, who has 28 England caps and made his international debut during the 2022 Six Nations, admits the prospect of Lions selection felt laughable until fairly recently. 'When you make your international debut, you want to keep building to that next step, but I thought there's no way,' said Chessum, who began his career with Nottingham. 'Even though I'd played my international debut, I thought 'I'm so out of my depth here, how do lads go from international rugby to being the best of that bunch?'. 'Four years ago, I'd probably have laughed in your face if you told me I would be here. But I'm over the moon. 'Everyone has got their own journey and I'm not going to knock mine, it's got me here.' Great to see you, lads! 👋🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 England head coach Steve Borthwick, who handed Chessum his Leicester debut in 2020, was among those to offer congratulations following the selection announcement on May 8. Future Tigers boss Geoff Parling will be in direct opposition to Chessum this summer in his role as Wallabies assistant coach before replacing Michael Cheika at Mattioli Woods Welford Road next season. 'It will be a bit of a strange atmosphere but I am looking forward to working with him,' Chessum said of Parling, who toured Australia with the Lions in 2013.
