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| Jim Telfer |
British & Irish Lions coaching legend Jim Telfer has
recreated his famous 1997 players pre-match gee-up meeting in an online video
that provides a rallying cry for the men of Great Britain and Ireland to travel
to Australia for the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour.
The video is a tongue-in-cheek parody of the original
"Mount Everest" motivational speech, which has become a part of the
rich Lions folklore. The recreation sees Telfer preparing the men of Great
Britain and Ireland for the battle that faces them in overcoming their greatest
challenge - convincing their wives and girlfriends for permission to travel to
Australia and follow the 2013 Tour.
"The British & Irish Lions Tour is the absolute
pinnacle for players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are no
excuses to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm urging every UK
man to climb their Everest and support our team," Jim Telfer said.
While the video takes a lighthearted approach, The
British & Irish Lions Tour is sure to be an incredible experience for
players and fans alike and shouldn't be missed, according to Jim Telfer, who
represented The British & Irish Lions both as a player and a coach.
As well as giving rugby union fans the opportunity to be
part of sporting history, the event is also a stimulus for Australian tourism,
with 20,000 fans from the UK alone visiting Australia for the 2001 Tour.
Organisers anticipate a similar level of
support for 2013.
"British & Irish Lions fans are some of the most
avid in the world, and we await the "Sea of Red" to invade our shores
later this year. With nine games, including three Test matches, played
throughout Australia, this will be a great boost for tourism and a wonderful
opportunity to showcase the best of our country to as many as 20,000 travelling
fans," said Andrew McEvoy, Managing Director, Tourism Australia.
"We have had a lot of fun making this video and hope
rugby fans in the UK and Ireland will take it in the spirit it is meant,
sharing it widely and encouraging as many of their male rugby friends to dig
out their rugby jerseys and book their trip Down Under. A Lions Tour is special
and you can't underestimate the impact the support of the fans has on a
players' performance. Nothing will encourage the team more than running out to
a sea of red Lions supporters, and we urge you to follow Jim Telfer's words of
wisdom and come out to Australia with us," said Charlie McEwen, British
& Irish Lions Director of Sales and Marketing.
The British & Irish Lions will play nine matches
during the six-week Tour of Australia (5 June - 6 July), including three Test
matches against the Qantas Wallabies and games against all five Australian
Super 15 Rugby teams. The three Test matches will occur in Brisbane (22 June),
Melbourne (29 June) and Sydney (6 July), with the Tour also including matches
in Perth, Canberra and Newcastle.
This project is a joint initiative between Tourism Australia
and The British & Irish Lions. Video - The video can be viewed on our YouTube channel
More information about The British & Irish Lions Tour
to Australia 2013 is available at - http://www.lionstour.com
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