Famous British and Irish Lions Tour speeches

Bringing together the best rugby union players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Lions selection represents the pinnacle of many a career in the sport.

An institution steeped in history, with the first Lions Tour taking place back in 1888, only truly elite players are afforded the privilege of donning the famous red shirt.

Such is the magnitude of Lions Test Matches, Tours have often inspired some of the most stirring team speeches in sporting history.

We take a look through the archives to highlight the most memorable British and Irish Lions Tour speeches of all time.

• Jim Telfer

"This is your Everest, boys. Very few ever get a chance in rugby terms to get to the top of Everest. You have the chance today" (1997).

- Arguably the most famous Lions speech of all, Scottish assistant coach Jim Telfer issued a stirring rallying cry ahead of the first Test against South Africa on the 1997 Tour.

"There are two kinds of rugby players, boys – there are honest ones and the rest" (1997).

- Another of Telfer's most revered inspirational speeches during the memorable Lions Tour of 1997, which saw the touring side overcome South Africa 2-1 in the Test series.

• Willie John McBride

"There are times in this game today when you’ve got to reach into the very depths of your inner being, to pick it up and go again. That’s what it’s about" (2001).

- A true legend of the British and Irish Lions, having received 17 caps across five Tours, Willie John McBride was asked along to help inspire the squad of 2001 ahead of the first Test against Australia.

"If you can look at your teammate in the eye and say I couldn’t have given any more, nobody can ask anything else" (2009).

- An outstanding public speaker, the legendary McBride was invited along to the Lions camp again in 2009 to inspire the team ahead of the first Test against South Africa.

• Sir Ian McGeechan

"We've proved that the lion has claws and has teeth. We've wounded a springbok. When an animal is wounded it returns in frenzy. It doesn't think, it fights for its very existence. The Lion waits, and at the right point, it goes for the jugular. And the life disappears" (1997).

- Head coach of the Lions on four Tours - 1989, 1993, 1997, 2009 - Sir Ian McGeechan utilised powerful imagery ahead of the decisive third Test against South Africa in 1997, which was edged by his travelling side.

• Andy Farrell

"There is no tomorrow. We are taking them boys to the Hurt Arena this weekend" (2013).

- The head coach of the British and Irish Lions for the 2025 Tour of Australia, Ireland manager Andy Farrell delivered a rousing speech on the eve of a decisive third Test in the 2013 Tour Down Under during his spell as an assistant coach.

• Alun Wyn Jones

"Faz [Andy Farrell] said there's no tomorrow, there is. There's a tomorrow with this jersey that you'll wear and it'll remain on you until you finish playing, until you die from today. And there's a tomorrow without the jersey. We've got 80 minutes to choose which one we want" (2013).

- Applying his own take on assistant coach Andy Farrell's own rallying call, legendary Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones challenged his teammates on the eve of the pivotal third Test against the Wallabies in 2013, which the Lions won emphatically 41-16.

• Lawrence Dallaglio

"It is the greatest honour I could ever receive as a rugby player. It is the pinnacle of my career" (2005).

- His lip quivering as he spoke, legendary former England back rower Lawrence Dallaglio described his pride at becoming a Lion in an address to his teammates during the 2005 Tour of New Zealand.

• Paul O'Connell

"I'll play for you all day" (2013).

- A man mountain of a lock for Ireland, Paul O'Connell demonstrated his leadership during the 2013 Lions Tour of Australia.

• Martin Johnson

"Call out their names and think about them now - Kruger, Venter, Teichmann. They'll all get it" (1997).

- England's World Cup-winning captain of 2003, Martin Johnson helped get the Lions pumped up during their famous 1997 Test series triumph over South Africa.