Lions land in Hong Kong for first Asian tour game
Source: AFP |
May 29, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE star-studded British and Irish Lions touched down in Hong Kong, China, yesterday for the first Asian tour match in their 125-year history, ahead of the three-Test series with Australia.
The 37-man squad, which combines the cream of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, was given a warm welcome as they arrived at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport wearing red Lions T-shirts.
Captain Sam Warburton and Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg posed with local schoolchildren who displayed a banner in Chinese saying "Welcome British and Irish Lions to Hong Kong" alongside the Lions mascot, Billy.
The Lions, who visit one southern hemisphere nation every four years, kick off their tour on Saturday when they play the Barbarians at Hong Kong Stadium.
The Lions' first ever game in Asia adds to rugby's steadily growing presence in the region, including Bledisloe Cup games between Australia and New Zealand in Hong Kong and Japan's hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Saturday's match is a warm-up for the Lions' tour of Australia, when they will try to end a three-series losing streak since defeating South Africa in 1997.
Their last visit to Australia in 2001 saw them edged out 1-2 in the gripping final installment of a brutal series against John Eales's Wallabies.
Subsequently the Lions have suffered a 0-3 loss to New Zealand in 2005 and a 1-2 reverse against South Africa in 2009.
The 37-man squad, which combines the cream of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, was given a warm welcome as they arrived at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport wearing red Lions T-shirts.
Captain Sam Warburton and Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg posed with local schoolchildren who displayed a banner in Chinese saying "Welcome British and Irish Lions to Hong Kong" alongside the Lions mascot, Billy.
The Lions, who visit one southern hemisphere nation every four years, kick off their tour on Saturday when they play the Barbarians at Hong Kong Stadium.
The Lions' first ever game in Asia adds to rugby's steadily growing presence in the region, including Bledisloe Cup games between Australia and New Zealand in Hong Kong and Japan's hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Saturday's match is a warm-up for the Lions' tour of Australia, when they will try to end a three-series losing streak since defeating South Africa in 1997.
Their last visit to Australia in 2001 saw them edged out 1-2 in the gripping final installment of a brutal series against John Eales's Wallabies.
Subsequently the Lions have suffered a 0-3 loss to New Zealand in 2005 and a 1-2 reverse against South Africa in 2009.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
