Page 5 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

HISTORY WILL BE MADE IN 2017
KIA ORA! TOURS TO TO NEW ZEALAND BY THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
don’t come around very o o o o o o o en en The current schedule of of tours spans a a a a gap of of 12 years yet the Lions have been coming to to New Zealand as a a a a a a a touring team since 1888 and have 12 series under their belt It’s this combination of scarcity the the the the traditional rugby tour nature of of the the the the event the the the the passion of of their fans and the the the the fact that the the the the team truly does represent the the the the best of Northern Hemisphere rugby rugby that makes it such a a a wonderful rugby rugby tour Through the the the decades many of the the the encounters between the the the Lions and our our provincial teams teams as as well as as our our teams teams in in in black have gone down in in in rugby rugby folklore fondly reminisced about in in local rugby rugby clubs bars homes and on the the the sidelines Who can forget the the the intensity of the the the 2005 series? Or the evenly fought Test matches in 1993? And of course when
the the Lions took out the the series in 1971?
And it’s not only the the the action on on on on the the the eld that makes the the the iconic
DHL NZ Lions Series so special O the eld New Zealand will be awash with hordes of visitors – more than 20 000 international supporters due this year – all wearing traditional Lions colours or the the jerseys of their home unions These are well-behaved fun-loving fans who contribute to a a a a remarkable time time in New Zealand – a a a a a a a a time time that I for for one can’t wait for for A A er er their series win in in in Australia in in in 2013 and a a a a tremendously competitive Six Nations Championship this year the the team and their supporters will have high expectations of repeating their success However they will have to face ercely competitive teams in every match they play tackling our Super Rugby sides and the the Provincial Barbarians for the rst time So bring it on!
Whether you’re going to the the the games following the the the action at home or or watching on on screens in in New Zealand or or further a a a a a eld on on behalf of New Zealand Rugby I hope you enjoy the the Series A er er all the the next one won’t be until 2029!
David Rhodes
New Zealand Rugby President April 2017
WELCOME
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS
SERIES 2017
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