Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Rugby Union: Warburton to become the 800th Lion

Sport | Richard Gurner | Published: 12:17, Thursday June 6th, 2013.
Last updated: 12:19, Thursday June 6th, 2013

The British and Irish Lions today announced the team to play the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.

Tour captain Sam Warburton will lead the team and becomes the 800th British and Irish Lion in the proud history of the side celebrating its 125th anniversary year.

Warburton will make his tour debut against the Reds along with prop Gethin Jenkins, while lock Geoff Parling, prop Matt Stevens, hooker Tom Youngs and his brother and scrum-half Ben Youngs will all make their run-on debuts for the Lions.

Tour Manager Andy Irvine said: “We have played two matches so far and done very well but the stakes get higher on Saturday against the Reds, who are a leading Super Rugby side. It is the type of game we require at this point in the tour and it will be a measure of how we are progressing on the field.

“Tour captain Sam Warburton is the last of the 2013 tourists that has yet to pull on the famous red jersey. He is now fit and raring to play and it is great that he marks the occasion by becoming the 800th British and Irish Lion.”

Head Coach Warren Gatland said: “Two wins and two victories is great but those two matches are building blocks as we head towards the Test series. We always said we would give every player a start in the first three matches and this team reflects that. It also provides us with the opportunity to continue to look at different combinations.

“For the Reds match this includes a new centre pairing and a different front five. At the same time we have several players playing their second matches on tour and some proven combinations starting the match. Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell are the incumbent England halfbacks and we have an all-Welsh backrow.”

British and Irish Lions (v Queensland Reds, June 8, 7.30pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
13. Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers/England)
12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets/Wales)
11. Tommy Bowe (Ulster/Ireland)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Toulon/Wales)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
3. Matt Stevens (Saracens/England)
4. Richie Gray (Scotland)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers/England)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales)
7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
8. Tangaki Taulupe Faletau (Dragons/Wales)
Replacements
16. Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales)
17. Makovina Vunipola (Saracens/England)
18. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
19. Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland)
20. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys/Wales)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Ireland)
22. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Ireland)
23. George North (Scarlets/Wales)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Latest News

  • Education
    Welsh Government ‘lacks urgency’ amid ‘crisis’ for vulnerable childrenTuesday, September 23, 2025
  • A new health board initiative is changing the way menopause care is delivered in GP surgeries across Gwent. The Menopause Champions Project, introduced in June this year by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, aims to give patients going through menopause better access to informed and consistent support from their local practice teams. The scheme was developed by Dr Jayne Forrester-Paton, a menopause and sexual and reproductive health specialist, alongside Dr Michelle Olver, clinical lead of the menopause team, and nurse consultant Nikki Noble. Together, they set out to equip GPs and practice nurses with up-to-date knowledge and practical tools to improve care. So far, 41 GP practices in the region now have a trained “Menopause Champion” — a clinician who can provide advice and guidance on both hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options. These champions are backed by a network of colleagues and specialists to help them stay confident in managing more complex cases. Dr Forrester-Paton said the project had already made a strong start and would continue to grow: “We are proud of how successful this project has been so far and will continue to grow, with plans to expand educational sessions for clinicians, offer virtual case discussions to improve care for complex menopause cases and strengthen the collaboration between primary care and specialist menopause services. “The Menopause Champions Project is helping to ensure that menopause is treated with the same care and attention as any other health issue, giving patients the support they need, when they need it.”
    Project aiming to improve menopause support in GP surgeriesTuesday, September 23, 2025
  • Regulators accused of ‘institutional evasion’ over ‘noxious’ landfill siteMonday, September 22, 2025
  • Danny Lane has been recalled to prison
    Police appeal as burglar recalled to prisonMonday, September 22, 2025
  • A CCTV image of Jamie Loader at the One Stop shop in Blackwood on August 27
    Family informed after body found in search for missing manMonday, September 22, 2025
  • Around 100 people attended the event at Ty Penallta
    ‘In unity there is strength’: Ukrainian community thanks Caerphilly with food, music and artMonday, September 22, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 4, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: St Cenydd Road, TrecenyddTuesday, September 2, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Heol Aneurin, PenyrheolTuesday, September 2, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.