Women’s Lions team in pipeline

LONDON: The growing appeal of women’s rugby is likely to see a British and Irish Lions tour of their own, the Lions chief operating officer Charlie McEwen said on Friday.

However, any such plan will have to wait till after the Lions have fought their own corner in preserving the traditional 10match itinerary in discussions over the men’s post 2019 global calendar.

“At some point in the future I think a British and Irish Lions women’s team is an important step forward that the Lions should be making,” said McEwen.

“There is a place for a women’s Lions team, lots of people have been talking about it.

“Whether that’s in the next two or three years, whether that’s in five, 10 years, who knows?

“I would love to see that plan progressing, and there could potentially be opportunities to tour Canada or New Zealand, as just two examples.” AFP