Duncan Casey: Why a Lions tour of France just wouldn't work

A Lions of France could never happen in the traditional format. Clubs do not have the room in their calendars for games. 

A Lions tour of France can’t be facilitated without a complete reconfiguration of the European club season, something that is unlikely to be entertained. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

As test number two approaches, it’s fair to say the current Lions tour has not captivated us the way we hoped against hope it would. The stark contrast in fortunes for the sport of rugby union between the home nations (with the exception of Wales) and their descendants 15,000 kilometres away has been evident throughout.

The steady decline of the Wallabies from powerhouse to mediocrity is the result of a problem most countries can only dream of having: there is simply too much top-level sport to choose from. Rugby union is quite the distance behind Australian rules, rugby league, cricket and football.