Touring is more than just rugby

The Lions squad made many new friends off the field this week.

After arriving in Sydney, where they were set to open their Super Rugby tour against the Waratahs today, the Lions threw their support behind the battle against recent devastating bushfires in New South Wales.

The Lions Rugby Company and the team said they would be making a contribution to the Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).

The squad hosted a breakfast in Sydney on Wednesday with all proceeds going to WIRES, which was based in New South Wales and needed urgent assistance to help with unprecedented emergencies.

It remains impossible to determine how many animals have perished and it will be many months before the impact on wild populations can be better understood.

Ecologists at the Sydney University have estimated that over 800 million animals have been affected in Australia since September.

The Lions, however, are not in Sydney just to support this good cause. There’s also the issue of playing rugby.

It is believed that today’s match in the small town of Parramatta, just outside Sydney, could be the Lions’ best chance to earn a win on tour, with their other games against the Rebels, Blues and Highlanders regarded as more difficult assignments.

But, like Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen said this week, no match in this competition can be taken lightly, especially when a team is on tour.

The Lions can also ill afford to take any opposition lightly after losing two of their first three matches, with the Stormers and the Sharks being the most impressive of the local South African Super Rugby franchises thus far.

Early indications are that the Lions will find the going tough in an attempt to close the gap on the front runners.

There was much talk last week of a bonding opportunity for the Lions on tour, and some of the players posted pictures on social media of time spent on Bondi Beach this week.

But it could be time for the Lions to stand up and be counted.