Barnes recalls a Wright ruckus over Billy

As youngest tourist, Stuart Hogg was the guardian of the Lions’ soft toymascot throughout the tour of Australia four years ago but, two decades previously, a fellow Scot took defence of Billy’s honour to the max.

Stuart Barnes skippered the Lions midweek side on the opening tour match in 1993 against North Auckland in Whangarei and recalled that trip, which ended in a 2-1 loss to the All Blacks, getting off to an explosive start.

“I was extremely honoured when Ian Mcgeechan selected me as captain for that first game, although I was a bit embarrassed to run out with that cuddly toy tucked in my arm,” said Barnes.

“I remember placing Billy on the halfway line and heading to the centre for the handshake and so on when I heard this uproar from the crowd and sensed something had happened. It turned out that one of the Northland boys had given Billy a bit of a kicking and I turned around to see Peter Wright raining a few sharp blows down on the assailant.

“So the first fight of the tour came before the first whistle and it was Wright in the thick of it!”

Barnes added: “There is a claustrophobia to touring New Zealand. Everyone loves rugby, they love the history of the Lions. There’s no escape as a player.”