A voice of reason: Willie John McBride weighs in on Lions debate

Legendary British & Irish Lions captain Willie John McBride has launched a scathing attack on the 2021 tour organisers in the four Home Unions, saying they are currently turning the Lions into a “total farce”.

McBride, the most decorated Lion in history with five tours – including series victory in South Africa in 1974 – and 17 test caps, has warned against the proposed idea of playing the series in Britain and Ireland, thereby making the Springboks the tourists.

“I fear for the Lions,” McBride told The Rugby Paper. “I worry that they could now be on their way out. They are doing what I was scared they would do by playing a series at home.

“It’s a farce. A total farce. They have lost the concept of the Lions and what they are about. The Lions epitomised all the things we held dear. It’s about brining young together, teaching them tolerance and understanding by going to far-flung corners of New Zealand, South Africa and, more recently, Australia.

“I remember going there with the Lions in 1966 to raise money in Rugby Union in Australia before it died. We helped put them back on their feet and then they went on to win two of the first four World Cup finals.”

McBride is by no means in two minds as to what the best course of action should be.

“You just cancel it,” he continued. “There will be nobody at the games. They should rearrange it for South Africa next year. Instead, all they’re interested in nowadays is money.

“I’d love to know who is controlling rugby. Is it the [English] Premiership clubs? Is it television? Is it the sponsors?”

England and Ireland have been the most vociferous objectors to the idea of moving the tour to 2022 as they feel that their schedules will be adversely affected and thus harm their chances at the 2023 World Cup in France.

“They can rearrange timetables. The Lions only play in the southern hemisphere, nowhere else.

“A Lions tour here [in Britain and Ireland] is not the Lions. I feel very sorry about it.”