Welsh rugby fans’ attentions are firmly on this year’s Six Nations, but it was a winning Lions’ performance last year that inspired photographer Paul Fears.
The snapper received a ‘Highly Commended’ award from the Urban Photographer of the Year competition for his photograph of British Lions supporters on a train after the famous final test victory in Sydney on July 6 last year.
Paul, who is originally from the Castle Park area of Caerphilly town, was down under through work. Being a lifetime rugby supporter he took the opportunity to travel to the ANZ Stadium in the Olympic Park on the outskirts of Sydney to take photographs of the general atmosphere before and after the famous test match against Australia – which the British Lions won 41-16.
After the game, Paul returned to Sydney by train and continued to take photographs of the euphoric British Lions’ supporters.
His photograph ‘Happy Travellers’ was taken as he stepped down from one level to another inside a train taking supporters back into Sydney.
Paul said: “What struck me as incredible about this scene was the sheer number of British Lions supporters packed onto the train.
“They were all wearing bright red shirts, hats and scarves and there was only the occasional Australian gold shirt to be seen.
“I was candidly taking shots of fans on the train and captured this image by surreptitiously holding the camera at waist height as I climbed down the stairs from the upper deck of the train.7
“I was really pleased with the end result.”