The British & Irish Lions : Lions Features

With the 2009 series now done and dusted, we take a look back at the impact of skipper Paul O'Connell through the eyes of coaches, team-mates and the man himself.

One of the heroes of the 1997 tour to South Africa believes his countrymen have done themselves plenty of favours on the current tour of the Republic.

Sir Ian - The Ultimate Lion

31 Dec

The tributes to rugby's latest knight having been pouring in and former British & Irish Lions scrum half Matt Dawson led the way by describing Sir Ian McGeechan as "the ultimate Lion".

Rob Cole

Geech bows out on a high

5 Jul, 19:49

The morning after the night before can bring with it some troublesome headaches and, for the British & Irish Lions, the day after their magnificent win over the Springboks brought the realization that this is the end of the road for the man many call "the greatest ever Lion".

Rob Cole, Westgate

Nothing quite like the Lions

3 Jul, 13:23

The 2009 Lions series may nearly be over but, for players and supporters alike, the 10-match tour of South Africa has confirmed that there really is nothing quite like the Lions.

Westgate, Marc Heywood

Kankowski's chance to go one better

3 Jul, 12:45

Springbok No8 Ryan Kankowski will make his first Test start in over a year on Saturday, but it is also an opportunity for the Sharks ace to build on what his father, Tino, achieved against the 1980 British & Irish Lions.

Howie Kahn for Westgate

Flutey bridges 101 year gap

2 Jul, 15:39

Riki Flutey will become the first New Zealand-born player for 101 years to feature in a British & Irish Lions Test team when he makes his debut against the Springboks at Coca Cola Park on Saturday.

Rob Cole, Westgate

'Still plenty to play for' says Andrews

2 Jul, 11:27

The third and final Test between the Springboks and the 2009 British & Irish Lions might be a dead rubber in terms of the series outcome, but former Bok star Mark Andrews argues that the pride at stake between two proud rugby teams should not be discounted come Saturday.

Howie Kahn for Westgate

Rowntree gives last word on gouging

1 Jul, 21:38

Graham Rowntree has been there, seen and done it all and got every T-Shirt ever handed out to a front row player.

Rob Cole, Westgate

Best ever Lions tour says BOD

30 Jun, 17:46

Brian O'Driscoll has enjoyed an incredible rugby year, although the culmination he had hoped for, a Test series victory with the 2009 British & Irish Lions failed to materialise.

Rob Cole, Westgate

De Villiers defends Burger

29 Jun, 19:07

Controversial Springbok coach Peter de Villiers got himself into a row with the British & Irish Lions media over the eye gouging incident that led to Schalk Burger being banned for eight weeks.

Rob Cole, Westgate

McGeechan gives his Lions verdict

28 Jun, 14:18

Ian McGeechan launched his incredible career with the British & Irish Lions in victorious fashion in South Africa in 1974 and, 35 years on, he reached an all-time low after seeing his side lose the second Test to a last second penalty.

Westgate

Memory lane

26 Jun, 14:46

Victory in Saturday's second Test against South Africa in Pretoria would see the Lions stay alive in the series but it will not kill off the Springboks.

Westgate, Marc Heywood

Boks hoping to do SA proud says Habana

25 Jun, 10:31

Having already tasted World Cup success in 2007, Springbok try-machine Bryan Habana says the Boks would like to do their country proud by claiming a series win over the 2009 British & Irish Lions.

Howie Kahn for Westgate

History points in Geech's favour

24 Jun, 12:10

Ian McGeechan knows all about having to hit back after losing a first Test with the British & Irish Lions.

Westgate, Rob Cole

Lions pack will change and improve

21 Jun, 17:38

British & Irish Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree says his side can put right their scrum and driving maul problems before the second Test, but admits there could be changes to all three rows of the pack.

Rob Cole, Westgate

Gatland and Lions here to win

19 Jun, 18:03

On the eve of his first Test as a coach to the British & Irish Lions, Warren Gatland has given his verdict on the battles ahead and his views of the Springboks

Laura Brown, Lions Media Team

Waiting nearly over for Bok leader

19 Jun, 13:38

Springbok skipper John Smit is anxious for "the long wait" to be over and for his side to get down to business with the British & Irish Lions at the ABSA Stadium this weekend.

Westgate, Rob Cole

Cotton warns of better prepared Boks

19 Jun, 11:37

With the three-match Test series against South Africa about to kick off, Lions legend Fran Cotton has issued a warning to this summer's elite tourists that the Springboks will be better prepared than ever.

Westgate, Rob Cole

The ideal Lions leader

18 Jun, 21:08

With a mouth-watering Test series against the Springboks now upon us, Lions past and present have reiterated their belief that Ian McGeechan is the perfect man to lead the class of 2009 to victory in South Africa.

Westgate, Marc Heywood

Number no issue for Steyn

18 Jun, 20:34

Springbok utility back Frans Steyn - named at fullback for Saturday's first Test against the British & Irish Lions in Durban - is no stranger to playing for his country under trying circumstances.

Howie Kahn for Westgate

Sizing up the Springboks

18 Jun, 15:33

Picking a Springbok team is every South African's favourite past-time. For Bok coach Peter de Villiers it is a little more than just a passing hobby… in fact, it is an exercise that saves his job on a weekly basis.

Howie Kahn for Westgate

The 2009 Lions finished their 10-match tour of South Africa in some style as they crushed the world champion Springboks in the third and final Test on Saturday afternoon.

The British & Irish Lions

Tour to South Africa 2009

The British & Irish Lions

Tour to South Africa 2009