Could the Lions concept be set up today?

There was a similar thread about the Lions that I read at work earlier today but our firewalls won't let me add comments. Anyway, this is a slightly different angle.
If they didn't already exist would the concept of the Lions get off the ground if you tried to start it today?
Given the tours' popularity with the Lions' fans and the host nation, I think they will continue but, with the justifiable concerns about player welfare and burn-out plus the financial muscle flexed by EPR, do you think that you woudl be able to start a Lions team now?
I have to say that I don't think we would have the petty arguments that football have about the demerits of a combined UK soccer team as the 4 governing bodies don't seem as narrow-minded but the EPL's influence would, I think, kill the idea dead in the water.

I very much doubt if they would due to as you mention player burn out fixture congestion etc etc.

It might be a bit of a tangent, but I really don't believe the governing bodies in football are petty minded. There is a desire to force the UK to field one team that exists in FIFA that is completely absent in the IRB. There's a bit of paranoia like, but their logic is sound.

Notch wrote:It might be a bit of a tangent, but I really don't believe the governing bodies in football are petty minded. There is a desire to force the UK to field one team that exists in FIFA that is completely absent in the IRB. There's a bit of paranoia like, but their logic is sound.

When you've got a promise to the contrary from none other than Herr Blatter, you can't blame the UK FAs from being too cautious Notch.

Portnoy wrote:

Notch wrote:It might be a bit of a tangent, but I really don't believe the governing bodies in football are petty minded. There is a desire to force the UK to field one team that exists in FIFA that is completely absent in the IRB. There's a bit of paranoia like, but their logic is sound.

When you've got a promise to the contrary from none other than Herr Blatter, you can't blame the UK FAs from being too cautious Notch.

Precisely

The players are all well paid so no.

Why is this relevant? From what i remember reading about the tour it started because some international Scottish (i think) players wanted to go on a tour to the SH but money immediately became an issue. Playing rugby for a few months in a far from home and drinking a lot sounded like a great idea but only a few on the Scottish team could afford to go and take three months off work. So they asked players they knew in other countries. It was a tour for the wealthiest players, not the best. It was inclusive of players from different nations only because of the cost, not out of some notion of togetherness. The French were not great at rugby back then and the international competition in Europe was 4 nations still.

If it did start today it would include players from 6 countries (i think it should now anyway). This would spread out the burden of injuries and burn out so the unions might not object too much. This would also make it more profitable with more fans of course. It would also increase the standard. (Like how the ryder cup is in golf.) But i posted a thread like this on 606 before so i won't elaborate further. Que horror and outrage.

I quite like that idea Intotouch. I'd have no problem at all with adding Italy and France to the Lions; in fact, I think it would be great leap forward.

France probably wouldn't go for it mind you.