The so-called “Lions Challenge” series that was meant to keep that union’s players in shape while they watch other teams playing Super Rugby has now descended int farce, with the news that the US leg of the series has been unilaterally canceled by the Golden Lions Rugby Union.
According to a release from the GLRU, CEO Manie Booysen has taken the “regrettable” decision to cancel the trip just days before it was due to begin, due to spiraling costs and concerns over the “quality of opposition” the Lions would face. It’s amazing that it’s taken the Lions quite this long to work out that American club sides aren’t particularly strong; one would expect any Super Rugby team worth its salt (erm) to hand out a 50-point drubbing to the American national side, after all.
We await further information as to what the Lions’ next plan will be. With baited breath.
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Shame, hope they sort something else out, play the sharks vodacom side or something.
Eish!!! At this rate they Lions won’t be able to put up a challenge for Superrugby promotion.
@Viking (Comment 2) : Good. I never ever want to see them participate again. Useless kak union that contributed nothing ever to the competition. At no point ever was anybody excited to go and whatch a Lions game, so why have them back?
Its a sad day indeed. Was looking forward to the tour
@King Shark (Comment 3) : What the hell is your problem?
@King Shark (Comment 3) : Contrary to what I thought of the Kings earlier today, I think a lot more is being added by the Kings to this competition, especially now that they’ve drawn with the top of the log Brumbies on their first overseas tour.
Pretty darn impressive, something the Lions never even dreamed of achieving. I’ll gladly have my humble pie.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : The Lions beat the Brumbies in Australia in 2011 or is nothing good they ever do ever reconised?
@Mutley (Comment 7) : 2011’s Brumbies were a joke. 2013’s Brumbies are top of the log.
@Mutley (Comment 7) : Are you a snoiL fan boy, or just a Kings hater? 🙄
@FireTheLooser (Comment 9) : I’ve always been a Lions fan and always will be.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : So everybody that did not beat the Lions in 2011 was a joke?
@Mutley (Comment 10) : Look, the Lions had there chance last year to finally prove that they deserved their spot in SR, even the tjietas used the past two years as a wake-up call and started winning overseas.
The Lions squandered all their chances even though they had the necessary resources and yet they just never rose to the occasion.
Kings won their first ever game of SR, and today drew with the log leaders. So do they deserve to be replaced by the Lions?
On present evidence I think not.
The Gauteng province has their fair share of rugby games to watch. The Eastern Cape finally has the opportunity to watch some top class rugby and the people down here are loving it!! The Kings are honestly the best thing happening to SA rugby at the moment.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 13) : I got to watch my first live Sharks game this year and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 12) : I’m not saying the Lions are perfect, there management is terrible. What pissed me off the most is the most is the fact that the Kings got a free pass. They were not included for rugby reasons. If the Kings got in by beating the Lions I’ll give it to them but not until that.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 13) : The Eastern Cape could not get it on there own. They needed a hand out
@Mutley (Comment 16) : The Sharks also took a handout. They’re one of the best teams in SA today.
Any investor will know that it takes money to make money. Starting from nothing is very hard to impossible. The Sharks were given a jump start and look how they’ve used it. So too, have the Kings been given a jump start and they are using it.
@Mutley (Comment 15) : Yes they got a free pass, and everyone hates them for THAT reason. But they are using their pass. Something the Lions cant say of their 2012 season…
I for one am changing my mood and feelings on the Kings, the way they play and standing up against every team they have played shows real character. Even our top teams can take a leave out their book on that.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 17) : When did the Sharks get a jump start if I may ask?
@Uli (Comment 19) : in 1989 when they were promoted to the A division without ever winning a play-off match
@Uli (Comment 18) : Sorry but I can never respect them, they have not proved anything to me. Until they beat the Lions and prove they are better, they are not
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Ok and the year after we won the CC lol
How did they just get promoted? did they finish B division 1st? or did sarfu at the time just give them a pass?
@Mutley (Comment 21) : Look I understand how you are feeling, but the Kings are playing allot more positively than what the Lions have, bearing the CC they won.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 17) :
Spot on.
@Mutley (Comment 21) :
I can understand, and I sympathise with your pain.
But I am very happy that the Kings are playing so well. Long may it continue.
@Mutley (Comment 21) : They’ll beat the Lions, and you’ll still have plenty of reasons why you hate them.
Lions aren’t coming back, there is no way they’ll win their promo game against the Kings, they don’t have the character and heart to beat that team.
Get ready to see E.P in the CC from next year. For your own sanity, accept them now and you’ll be a much happier person in the end.
@Big Fish (Comment 24) : I agree, look if they end up loosing the relegation games, if they even play it we will see but lets say they do, and lose, at least they played their harts out this season. Something we all thought would never even happen.
@Mutley (Comment 21) : The time will come when the Lions will play the Kings yet I have a feeling that even if the Kings win there’ll still be much grumbling from supporters such as yourself.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 25) : Who says they will play the Kings? 😉
@Uli (Comment 28) : Hehe, well they might be in with a chance against the Streamers 😈
@Uli (Comment 28) : At this rate they’ll be playing the Stormers 😉
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 30) : Which is a scary thought. A very scary thought. 😕
@FireTheLooser (Comment 29) : @The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 30) : Exactly my thoughts 🙂
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 31) : I think it is good that they got the promotion relegation going, it makes for tougher competition. In the old Super 10 it was the same, the Sharks did not play the 1995 comp, then went on to win the Cc, and played in the Final of the super 12 the next season.
@Uli (Comment 33) : Look at how the Cheetahs have been performing in recent times too – promotion/regulation is a good motivation tool. Perhaps, just perhaps, the thick-headed SANZAR bosses will split Super Rugby into two competitions (tier 1 and tier 2 with promotion/regulation between the two)… Then, I believe, we shall see some quality rugby, all round.
“baited breath”? I hope you have some mouthwash handy 🙂
@Baylion (Comment 35) : LOL… those fishing ones never get old
@FireTheLooser (Comment 25) : The players have heart and I believe in them. They can beat the King and they will.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 34) : That’s the first thing you said that made sense. I also like the 2 tier competision. There are to many teams at the moment
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 34) : SANZAR will decide on the SR structure for 2016 onwards later this year. To my mind there are too many “development” teams in SR now and it will only get worse if the Aussies and Kiwis get their way to include Japan, the Pacific Islands and the Americas so a two-tier structure with a proper promotion/relegation system is a necessity
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 34) : I agree with you, would strengthen Rugby hugely, and would also allow for more countries to be involved, with the top 3 teams from each country in the top tier and then the rest in the 2nd tier, with bottom 3 teams getting relegated, top 3 being promoted. It would also push the Unions into putting more money into their teams to help them stay in the top tier. Rugby could learn a lot form the UEFA Champions and Europa league.
@robdylan (Comment 36) : Rob do you agree with this idea? I want to start a petition.
@Seth101 (Comment 41) : yes
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 34) : @Baylion (Comment 39) : @Seth101 (Comment 40) : Yes, brilliant idea. Will breath much needed life into the lower third of the competition.
At this stage I cannot think of anything duller than watching the Tahs, Force or Rebels playing each other or playing any of the kiwi teams.
I think however they should drop the conference system to get an accurate picture of who the top 9 – 12 (depending on how competitive teams 10 to 12 are) teams in the competition are, as apposed to merely taking the top three from each country.
But two tier is definitely the way to go, especially if the Argies are to get their players into a Southern Hemisphere competition.
Back to the topic: Th Lions Challenge is and always was a Wooden Spoon Knockouts Preparation Programme, nothing more and the cancellation of the two USA matches don’t affect the programme in any way.
The meat of the programme is in June and July when the Lions are scheduled to play Samoa, the French Barbarian, Grenoble, Montpellier, the Sharks and the Stormers before the knockouts.
The Lions largely ignored the Vodacom Cup as it finishes at the beginning of May already and they played mainly u/19 and u/21 players, but that should change now.
You may disparage the “Lions Challenge” but that is the only way the Lions can try to prepare for the playoffs considering they were dumped into a void and with no alternative competition available they put this programme together without assistance from SARU, financial or otherwise.
To laugh off the “quality” of the opposition is ludicrous. What else is available out there with Super Rugby and the Northern Hemisphere competitions still on the go?
If they had done nothing the Lions detractors would have been quick to point fingers at that too.
@robdylan (Comment 20) : And then won the CC for the first time a year later.Sometimes we cant see the wood for the trees. Nobody expected it and Naas famously said it wouldnt happen for another 100years.
just have a look and the crowds at the kings games to the lions games. the kings games are always sold out.