Gregor Townsend reveals Lions’ team bonding session which has echoes of 1997

Gregor Townsend was part of the successful Lions tour to South Africa in 1997 (Jane Barlow/PA)

A boozy pub session has been credited for propelling the British and Irish Lions to victory over South Africa in 1997 and Warren Gatland’s men have adopted a similar approach to uniting rival nations.

Gregor Townsend has revealed that the Lions’ Jersey training camp has seen the effort on the practice field complimented by a lively social side culminating in a noisy alcohol-fuelled Saturday night.