Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 25

Thread: Western Force to Open British Irish Lions Tour

  1. #1
    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    14,227
    vCash
    262778

    Western Force to Open British Irish Lions Tour

    Australian Rugby Union today confirmed Perth will host the opening match of the tour when the British and Irish Lions make their long-awaited return to Australia in 2013.

    The Lions – selected from the best players in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – visit Australia only once every 12 years, and will reignite a rivalry that exploded in 2001 when the Wallabies won a thrilling and sold-out series by two Tests to one.

    On the 2013 Tour, the Lions will play nine matches in six cities around Australia, with one set down for Perth under a long-term deal between the ARU and the State Government through Eventscorp.

    The Lions will play the Western Force in Perth on Wednesday, 5 June, with a venue still to be determined for the match.

    Three days after taking on the Force, the Lions will play the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

    While the tour opens in Perth, it will run a further five weeks before concluding with the Third Test in Sydney on Saturday, 6 July.

    The First Test will be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, 22 June, and the Second Test at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, 29 June.

    “The Lions tour here in 2001 was an extraordinary event and one which provided significant economic benefit to those cities which hosted major matches,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill AO.

    “More than 8000 Lions supporters came to Australia from the UK and Ireland on official tour packages and many more thousands made their own way here.

    “Four years ago in South Africa there were said to be 40,000 Lions fans that made the trek there to support their team.

    “A Lions Tour is a massive occasion. Behind the Rugby World Cup it is the most engaging, high-profile and popular event our game can showcase.

    “It is not just about the three Tests. It is about the hype and momentum a tour of six weeks develops.

    “Back in 2001, the feature of the First Test was the seas of Red as the Lions fans dressed en masse in the team’s colours to show their support.

    “It was a wonderful time and an unforgettable tour and 2013 promises to be even bigger and better.

    “The tradition and history of the Lions continues with every tour they embark on to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

    “The Lions tour only once every four years, so they visit the big three Southern Hemisphere nations only once every 12 years.

    “We’re delighted to bring one of those nine Lions tour matches to Perth in two years’ time. When the Lions were last here in 2001, the Western Force was not even in contemplation.

    “Our game has evolved and grown significantly since that tour of a decade ago and, as in 2001, we expect demand for Lions tickets to be extraordinarily high. It will be a tour not to miss.”

    Before arriving in Australia for their nine-match Tour, the Lions will kick off their campaign with a match in Hong Kong against the Barbarians on Saturday, 1 June.

    The full Lions Tour schedule is:

    DATE MATCH CITY
    Wednesday, 5 June Lions v Western Force Perth
    Saturday, 8 June Lions v Queensland Reds Brisbane
    Wednesday, 12 June Lions v Combined NSW-Qld Country Newcastle
    Saturday, 15 June Lions v NSW Waratahs Sydney
    Tuesday, 18 June Lions v Brumbies Canberra
    Saturday, 22 June LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Brisbane
    Tuesday, 25 June Lions v Melbourne Rebels Melbourne
    Saturday, 29 June LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Melbourne
    Saturday, 6 July LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Sydney

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.

  2. #2
    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Earth Capital
    Posts
    21,468
    vCash
    460000
    So long as members get first crack at the tickets no one will have to get hurt!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Champion
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Goldy - Sanctuary Cove
    Posts
    1,198
    vCash
    5000000
    please tell me its @ NIB and not Subi ?

    Yes okay 8,000 British fans came over in 2001, thats when unemployment wasn't an issue and now the pound has fallen out.. be lucky to see 800 from Britian come over the other 7,300 will be the expats.

    Force Members access 1st, then Australian members, then G.A.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    Burgs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Country WA
    Posts
    22,644
    vCash
    334000
    I'd wager it will be at Subiaco, they will want to screw every last dollar and pound out of the opportunity.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "Bloody oath we did!"

    Nathan Sharpe, Legend.

  5. #5
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    West Leederville
    Posts
    16,871
    vCash
    3102000
    Quote Originally Posted by Burgs View Post
    I'd wager it will be at Subiaco, they will want to screw every last dollar and pound out of the opportunity.
    Subi for sure, more $$$ to be made. Not all bad at least it's close to :jbs; and the bowlo for pre/post game refreshments

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

  6. #6
    Senior Player
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    757
    vCash
    5000000
    So by looking at the draw it seems that the best Lions team would play all the saturday matches, eg the two games against the reds and waratahs before the tests and we will get the midweek team. But then again, who cares, it is the Lions and a midweek team would still be top quality

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Champion
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    girrawheen
    Posts
    1,299
    vCash
    5000000
    Was at the WACA last time. It may be at NIB as the new grandstand should be in place by then.... shouldn't it?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  8. #8
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    West Leederville
    Posts
    16,871
    vCash
    3102000
    Quote Originally Posted by PerthGirl View Post
    Was at the WACA last time. It may be at NIB as the new grandstand should be in place by then.... shouldn't it?
    Yes it "should" be but they are supposed to be playing The Hopman Cup at the new Perth Arena this year as well, but that isn't going to happen.

    25,000 v 40,000 is a lot of $$$$$

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

  9. #9
    Champion GAFFA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Gosnells
    Posts
    2,180
    vCash
    5000000
    how many players tour?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    “Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.

  10. #10
    Veteran beige's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    4,515
    vCash
    5000000
    There was no Western Force back in 2001 either - I'd be surprised if it's not played at Subi.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  11. #11
    Apprentice
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Warwick
    Posts
    23
    vCash
    5000000
    Venues below. But these are from the "we love rugby" tour operators

    Combined QLD & NSW Country v Lions – OzGrid Stadium, Newcastle
    QLD Reds v Lions – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
    Western Force v Lions – Paterson Stadium, Perth
    NSW Waratahs v Lions – Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
    ACT Brumbies v Lions – Canberra Stadium, Canberra
    Melbourne Rebels v Lions – AAMI Park, Melbourne
    Qantas Wallabies v Lions – 1st Test – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
    Qantas Wallabies v Lions – 2nd Test – Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
    Qantas Wallabies v Lions – 3rd Test – ANZ Stadium, Sydney

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Senior Player Contributor WaterBoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Inglewood
    Posts
    644
    vCash
    5000000
    Please enlighten me, where is Paterson Stadium?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Got to love the 'member profiles', have a look...

    http://www.dunsboroughdungbeetles.com/ Don't seem to have a webpage anymore so go to https://www.facebook.com/Dunsborough...tlesRugbyClub/

  13. #13
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    Burgs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Country WA
    Posts
    22,644
    vCash
    334000
    Subiaco

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "Bloody oath we did!"

    Nathan Sharpe, Legend.

  14. #14
    Senior Player Contributor WaterBoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Inglewood
    Posts
    644
    vCash
    5000000
    Never Mind i googled it.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Got to love the 'member profiles', have a look...

    http://www.dunsboroughdungbeetles.com/ Don't seem to have a webpage anymore so go to https://www.facebook.com/Dunsborough...tlesRugbyClub/

  15. #15
    Senior Player Contributor WaterBoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Inglewood
    Posts
    644
    vCash
    5000000
    Thanks Burgs

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Got to love the 'member profiles', have a look...

    http://www.dunsboroughdungbeetles.com/ Don't seem to have a webpage anymore so go to https://www.facebook.com/Dunsborough...tlesRugbyClub/

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Match Review: Western Force & Queensland Reds
    By James in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 23-02-11, 08:20
  2. Force Still Unbeaten against Cheetahs
    By Darren in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 21-02-09, 12:34
  3. Force Complete NZ Tour Undefeated!
    By Darren in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 28-03-08, 15:53
  4. Western Force Gold Complete Yamaha Sweep
    By RugbyWA in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 19-08-06, 21:48
  5. THE WESTERN FORCE team for South Africa
    By The Man in forum Western Force
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 18-05-06, 15:36

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •