Has anyone made 4 Lions tours from 1993 - onwards?

I can't work it out? It's perfectly feasible, but someone would need to be selected quite young and then be on form in their early 30's to be lucky enough to make a 4th tour 12 years later.

I think BOD will sneak a place next year maybe based on experience, but also because he is still pure class and even better with other class players around him.

Simon Shaw could have, but he missed 2001.

Bod is likely to make it and is likely the only player to do so. Can't see Gethin making two more tours.

I think that only two legendary Irishmen have done five tours - Willie John and Mike Gibson, probably the greatest 12 in history.

Although I'm sure some of the old stagers will jump in here and give me an e-wedgie if any of that is wrong.

Is there an emoticon for that George?!

Griff wrote:Is there an emoticon for that George?!

There definitely should be if there isn't Griff. Quite hard to Google the appropriate words without it getting you into trouble, though.

George Carlin wrote:I think that only two legendary Irishmen have done five tours - Willie John and Mike Gibson, probably the greatest 12 in history.

Although I'm sure some of the old stagers will jump in here and give me an e-wedgie if any of that is wrong.

Gibson was also the first ever substitute.

Isn't the thread about 93 onwards?

Werent tours more frequent in the 60s and 70s?

TycroesOsprey wrote:Werent tours more frequent in the 60s and 70s?

They varied between three and four years...

Don't think BOD will be happy to tour and just make up the numbers, can you see him playing the midweek matches and then sitting it out come the tests? He's not the same player he was and probably wouldn't play in the tests... although things may change, 12 months is a long time in rugby.

I don't think it will mean much to BOD anyhow if the Lions lose the series or he plays no part in a winning one.

4 lions series and 4 lions series defeats doesn't have a nice ring to it.

I think Dai young went on 4 tours but from 89-01

according to the Lions website he only toured 3 times and got 3 caps out of 9 (did he play league during the 93 tour???).

Anyhow I think a record such as Guscott's is far better. 3 tours, 8 caps, 2 series wins, the other series the Lions were very very unlucky not to win, he won the series for the Lions in 89 & scored the winning points in 97.

Thats as good as you'll get in modern day rugby.

fa0019 wrote:according to the Lions website he only toured 3 times and got 3 caps out of 9 (did he play league during the 93 tour???).

Anyhow I think a record such as Guscott's is far better. 3 tours, 8 caps, 2 series wins, the other series the Lions were very very unlucky not to win, he won the series for the Lions in 89 & scored the winning points in 97.

Thats as good as you'll get in modern day rugby.

Ieuan Evans suckering campo in 89 and Neil Jenkins in the 97 were more key. Robert Jones beating up NFJ was amusing as well in 89.

fa0019 wrote:according to the Lions website he only toured 3 times and got 3 caps out of 9 (did he play league during the 93 tour???).

Anyhow I think a record such as Guscott's is far better. 3 tours, 8 caps, 2 series wins, the other series the Lions were very very unlucky not to win, he won the series for the Lions in 89 & scored the winning points in 97.

Thats as good as you'll get in modern day rugby.

Agree. I also like Finlay Calder's stat of being the only captain to take his side to a series win after losing the first test.

Yeah Guscott wasn't the main man in 97 but he he played a major part in all 3 series.

Jones on NFJ... it was a bit like watching girls fight to be honest, not very brutal, bit of a laugh.

Those were the good old days when guys like Chilcott were chosen on their fighting ability & proficiency in the bar alone. (jokes aside he was a far better player I give him credit for).

fa0019 wrote:Don't think BOD will be happy to tour and just make up the numbers

No he wouldn't but on his recent form there is every chance he would make the test team. Had a mixed bag yesterday but his recent form for Leinster in the HEC was very good, looked sharp in attack and defensively as strong as ever. Defended strongly against SBW yesterday but made a few poor forced passes.

He'll face strong competition from JD and Tuilagi but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the test side at all. In fact given Warburtons recent form he could yet captain the tour.

It's still much to early to say who will and won't be on the tour.