“Oh, it’d be amazing. I’d absolutely love it.”
We were nearing the end of a 45-minute chat with Sam Warburton, earlier this year, when the prospect of a women’s Lions team was raised. The former Wales and Lions captain’s eyes lit up.
“Obviously, right now, it would be dominated by England players,” he says, “but then the incentive to play rugby would grow massively, and the funding in the other nations would grow too.
“A women’s Lions tour would be awesome. I’d absolutely love to see it.”
The 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is nearing its’ conclusion, with a 2025 jaunt to Australia next on the agenda. There is a possibility, though, that the next Lions tour we see could feature some of the top female players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Back in March, Royal London – the company that will become ‘Principal Partner’ of the Women’s Lions Programme – announced a feasibility study would be launched into getting a tour up and running in the coming years.
A lot of the big movers and shakers in the world game are making the right noises, but getting so many unions and players, many of whom are amateurs, aligned will not be easy.
We spoke with two Ireland stars, Cliodhna Moloney and Claire Molloy, about the possibility of a Women’s Lions Tour, and what it would mean for the women’s game.
CLIODHNA MOLONEY
“A Lions Tour would be massive,” the Wasps and Ireland hooker says. “That or a European championship.
“I know there is talk of both. I don’t know how close or far away they are, really, but something is needed to try and bring the club game in Europe. To raise the amount of playing time for club players in Europe, something is needed.
“To bring the frequency of games and frequency of competitions, something is needed, especially if we want to increase the number of players that can compete in high-pressure situations against good quality teams. That’s the only way forward, that I can see.
“I don’t know how far away those plans are, if I’m honest or realistic about it, but it is something that would make a massive difference.”
The point raised by Moloney is a good one. While a Women’s Lions Tour would break new ground, and take in tours to North America and France, as well as the traditional southern hemisphere giants, some would prefer to see the club game restructure revamped with a Women’s Champions Cup.
Both would, of course, be ideal. Both would massively raise the profile of the game.
CLAIRE MOLLOY
“It would be a lovely carrot,” says the Wasps and Ireland flanker, “to be involved and be in that first Women’s Lions team. It would be a great achievement.”
Asked what other Irish players could also be in the mix, she comments:
“The likes of Cliodhna Moloney has been outstanding for Wasps and Ireland. She’s a powerful, dynamic, modern front row. She got two intercepts at the weekend, against Loughborough Lightning, which isn’t too bad for a hooker! She ran the length of the pitch, yet still kept finding people to run into.
“Beibhinn Parsons is a world-class talent, on the wing, and you have someone at centre like Sene Naoupu. You’ve got the work-horses like Ciara Griffin and Nicola Fryday, who go around and do a lot of work quietly. Then exciting talents like Dorothy Wall, who is a unique back row that we have in our squad. So powerful, so strong and she is bringing a lot to our game.”
Also mentioned by Molloy were Lindsay Peat – “What can’t she do?!” – and Stacey Flood, who ‘has a bit of the Finn Russells about her’.
“There are plenty of talents in the Lions squad who would definitely threaten for Lions places.”
LISTEN TO HOUSE OF RUGBY’S LIONS SERIES: EPISODE 9
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