The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

THERE was a poignant moment at Campbell’s Hill Cemetery, just outside Newcastle, New South Wales, in the small hours of the Irish night as Lions captain Sam Warburton came face to face with the grave of the original captain, Robert Seddon.

Gareth Edwards etched his name into rugby folklore with that try 40 years ago

IT was difficult leaving Cork last Saturday afternoon given the magnificent autumnal sunshine and the twin attractions of a good old fashioned dogfight between Cork Con and Young Munster in the AIL followed by the seasonal offering of jazz. At least the alternative had its attractions.

Warren Gatland limped into London’s historic Ironmonger’s Hall yesterday morning, a wounded Lions head coach but one which the team’s chairman Gerald Davies insisted was “fit for purpose” for next summer’s trip down under.

Triple Grand Slam winner Gethin Jenkins has set his sights on extending Wales’ upward curve Down Under this summer.

Wales will tap into the experience of their previous Grand Slam winners this week as they prepare for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations showdown against France.

DECLAN KIDNEY, Warren Gatland and Andy Robinson will all effectively be on trial during the forthcoming Six Nations to be head coach of the 2013 British and Irish Lions.

The British and Irish Lions will play Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney when they tour Australia in 2013.

IT SEEMS difficult to imagine a Wales side without Shane Williams, yet after this year’s World Cup, the diminutive winger will depart the international scene, and we will all have to struggle on without the sight of him blistering down a touchline in that red number 11 jersey.

The British and Irish Lions today announced they will launch their 2013 tour to Australia with a match in Hong Kong.

SEVENTIES legend Gerald Davies has hailed Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe as the best wingers in the world ahead of today’s Six Nations showdown.

THE dust has hardly settled on the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, but already plans are being drawn up for Australia 2013.

Ian McGeechan is confident he has established a coaching legacy that will carry the British and Irish Lions into a successful future.

SOUTH AFRICA forward Schalk Burger has reacted to his eight-week suspension byinsisting: “I am not a rugby thug.”

Stephen Jones urged the British and Irish Lions to produce one final push and end their tour of South Africa on a high with victory over the Springboks in Saturday’s third and final Test.

WILLIE JOHN McBride has been voted the greatest ever Lion by best-selling magazine Rugby World – though there is no place in the Top 50 for 2009 captain, Paul O’Connell.

Ian McGeechan has called on the power-brokers of northern hemisphere rugby to throw their full support behind the British and Irish Lions.

BRITISH and Irish Lion Nathan Hines, pictured, has received a one-week ban that will rule him out of contention for the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria.

Wales captain Ryan Jones has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa - just one day after arriving.

Englishman Phil Vickery is to captain the British and Irish Lions against Western Province tomorrow, the fifth game of their South African tour..

IAN McGEECHAN has revealed he is unlikely to give his British and Irish Lions Test team a trial run before their opening showdown against world champions South Africa.

Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts will reprise their destructive centre partnership when the Lions tackle the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.

Ian McGeechan has announced that former British Lions and Wales fly-half, Neil Jenkins, will join the Lions' tour squad following the conclusion of Wales' North American tour.

Leigh Halfpenny has linked up with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa.

Warren Gatland believes the Blue Bulls’ stunning Super 14 triumph has underlined how tough a task the British and Irish Lions face in South Africa.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL insists he will not be on a mission to right any wrongs when he lines up for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tomorrow.

Brian O’Driscoll will captain the British and Irish Lions in their second tour match against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

PAUL O’CONNELL has revealed his burning desire for the 2009 British and Irish Lions to become legends.

PAUL O’CONNELL has watched the un-missable 1997 Living With Lions video many times. And the 2009 British and Irish Lions captain is now on a mission to see his tourists repeat those heroic achievements.

ANYTHING up to 35,000 Irish spectators breathed a collective sigh of relief when Jonathan Sexton hoofed the ball into the crowd and Nigel Owens blew the final whistle at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Brian O’Driscoll has reported for duty with the South Africa-bound British and Irish Lions – and dismissed any fears about his tour fitness.

Welsh fly-half/centre James Hook has been announced by British & Irish Lions tour manager Gerald Davies, as the tour replacement for the injured Leigh Halfpenny.

Scotland hooker Ross Ford was today called into the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour to South Africa as a replacement for Jerry Flannery.

Ian McGeechan confirmed he will not be replacing injured centre Tom Shanklin as the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad met for the first time today without two other significant names.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has revealed his surprise at the appointment of Paul O’Connell as captain of the British and Irish Lions squad.

Three RBS 6 Nations captains – Ryan Jones, Steve Borthwick and Mike Blair - have failed to make the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa.

Paul O’Connell has been confirmed as captain of the British and Irish Lions for their tour of South Africa, with Keith Earls a surprise addition to the squad.

Will Greenwood believes the British and Irish Lions will travel to South Africa with "six or seven World XV players".

FOR Brian O’Driscoll, victory over England was probably one of the best experiences of his long and distinguished international career.

Rob Howley’s coaching career will continue to flourish with the Lions next year, and the former scrum-half admits he is still pinching himself at his rapid rise.

“A HUGE honour and extremely humbling” — that is how former Ireland and current Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, described his appointment as British and Irish Lions forwards coach yesterday for the 2009 Tour to South Africa.

British & Irish Lions tour manager Gerald Davies and head coach Ian McGeechan announced the coaching and key backroom staff for the 2009 tour to South Africa in Dublin today.