The Lions Roar: British Identity and the Professional Game

Abstract

In relation to national identities of contemporary times rugby provides us with an interesting scenario that is not present in many other sports. While the four home unions play each other annually in the Six Nations championships they also come together once every four years to form the British and Irish Lions. On a calendar that incorporates quadrennial trips to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand (with the next tour scheduled for Australia in 2013) this provides players from the home unions a chance to challenge some of the leading powers in the sport in their own backyard. In itself this is a testing and daunting task yet for the Lions this is something undertaken on very limited preparation time all the while trying to meld individuals from four very different cultures.