HASTA WORLD AMBASSADORS NIGEL OWENS MBE AND GEORGE KRUIS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS TOUR

Delayed due to the pandemic, the Test series in South Africa will start on the 24th July and the last match played on the 7th August. The British and Irish Lions are a rugby union team, comprised of eligible players from the national teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Being chosen is a true honour.

The British and Irish Lions tour every four years, rotating between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The most recent tour saw the Lions draw against New Zealand.

Led by Alun Wyn Jones, the Lions look like the stronger team, but the Springboks are not going to give up easily. This will be Jones’s tenth- successive Test cap for the Lions in Cape Town, joining a very small handful of rugby superstars who have achieved the same.

George Kruis, a triple European Champion and 2017 British and Irish Lion, is well aware of the truly magnificent experience playing in the Test series is. Having played in the last Test series, Kruis shares some special memories, “On field, the privilege to play for the Lions, especially against New Zeeland the best team in the world, was indescribable. Off field, I had a large amount of friends and family that went over there with me, and was able to build incredible relationships across four different nations. This was a completely different experience from anything I had ever done.”

Nigel Owens MBE is the game’s most capped international referee and has seen it all. Using his well-established knowledge of the game, he makes some predictions, “If the Lions win the first Test, they will go on to clinch it. I think they will win the series 2-1.”

South African winger, Cheslin Kolbe is Nigel’s player to watch with his speed and power, and  flanker Hamish Watson for the Lions. “It’s going to be brutal in the contact area, and I think we can get in there and win the turn of the ball, which will be the difference between winning and losing,” comments Nigel Owens MBE.

To celebrate the Test series, experiential wellbeing events company, hasta World, has launched a series of Leadership Lunches at the Langham London. Starting this Saturday and ending on the 7th August, rugby stars, Shane Williams MBE, Manu Tuilagi, Francois Louw, George Kruis, George North, Danny Care and Kelly Brown will join business executives for a South African inspired menu and champagne reception.

As well as a pre-match Q&A, guests will have the privilege of watching the game with leaders in rugby and have an interactive analysis of the match.