Shocked Lions dedicate tour to London victims

THE BRITISH and Irish Lions rugby players expressed shock and sympathy yesterday for those killed and injured in the London terror attacks, and dedicated their remaining New Zealand tour matches to the victims.

News of the attacks filtered through to the Lions yesterday as they were attending an official welcome ceremony in New Zealand a day after they won their opening tour match 13-7 against the Provincial Barbarians side.

“We’ve only just heard about the tragedies in London. We don’t know any detail yet, we just heard about it coming out of the meeting house here. But the boys are very shocked,” Lions manager John Spencer told journalists.

“But can I just please express our sympathies with those who have been injured back home. This is a dreadful tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are certainly with those who have been injured – and their families.

“We’re four nations but we’re one jersey, one team, and we’ll all stand united here about the sentiments in London.”

Six people were killed, three attackers were shot dead by police and at least 20 others wounded following what police two “terrorist incidents” in London.

The attacks came two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester and just days before the United Kingdom general election on June 8.

Lions captain Sam Warburton said of the remaining nine matches in New Zealand: “We will dedicate to those who have been involved.“– AFP