British and Irish Lions set for 125th anniversary meeting with Australia.
The British and Irish Lions’ tours of Australia are steeped in tradition, with the first voyage Down Under taking place an astonishing 125 years ago.
Every four years the home nations of the British Isles, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all come together to face the Australians in some crunch rugby union international test matches.
To mark the occasion, HSBC have teamed up with the Lions to recreate the very first of those early crossings by ship in a highly entertaining video.
The film begins on the Tasman sea in 1888, with a young cabin boy dashing around to provide everyone on the boat with limes, traditionally used to avoid scurvy.
He soon runs into a couple of Lions greats, and it is not long before the fun begins. If you’ve never seen rugby played aboard a galleon, this is your chance!
Lions coach Warren Gatland plays the ship captain, uttering the immortal line “Now the test begins” as the good ship approaches the shore – where former Australia captain and Wallabies legend George Gregan awaits – the record caps holder for his country.
The British and Irish Lions have played six matches so far on their tour, with the first five all ending victorious for the visitors.
They were then overcome by ACT Brumbies in a tight game in the final warm-up fixture before they meet Australia – the climax of their own Legendary Journey.
This is a sponsored post from HSBC.
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