International rugby is the real winner

CONGRATULATIONS to Warren Gatland and the Lions coaches, and to Captain Sam Warburton and the Lions squad on their fantastic achievement in drawing the three test series with the All Blacks.

After arguing against the Lions concept for the best part of two decades because of my fears it was detrimental to the psyche of Welsh players in the modern professional era, the scales have finally fallen from my eyes. I now realise the Lions is deservedly at the top of the pyramid of our wonderful game and absolutely crucial to helping ensure the future of the international game.

I had not fully appreciated that some of the myopic club owners want the Lions gone to help push us closer to the soccer model of club before county. That would be so short sighted.

The 20,000 fans from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales who spent a fortune travelling halfway around the world to support the boys as well as the millions more who watched it on TV are testament to the incredible modern appeal of the Lions brand of rugby. My son Dan in New York along with four friends (Welsh, English, South African and American) went straight from work Friday evening to an Irish bar showing the game live at 3.30am their time, and said the pub was heaving.

It would not surprise me to hear of similar stories all over the world as we witnessed the climax to a gripping sporting series that will have resulted in countless new rugby union converts discovering the delights of our beautiful game. Long live the Lions! R Terry James Brentwood, Essex