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Travelling army 10,000 supporters will follow Lions' fortunes
LONDON (Reuters) -- When the Lions last toured Australia in 1989 they were accompanied by a couple of hundred fans who, if they chose, could turn up on the day of a test match and pay on the gate. Now the cream of British and Irish rugby will be roared on by some 10,000 travelling supporters with several thousand more drawn from the expatriate community and the vast backpacker army that treks up and down the country's east coast. Eleven years ago the Sydney Football Stadium (twice) and Brisbane's Ballymore were more than adequate venues for the tests where a 40,000 crowd was a rarity. Now the authorities are under fire for limiting capacity at Sydney's Stadium Australia -- built for last year's Olympics -- to 69,000 and are being asked why the second test at Melbourne is at the Colonial Stadium instead of the 110,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground. Rugby as a spectator sport has enjoyed a quantum leap in the last decade but this tour appears to have touched a particular nerve and has been the main subject of discussion in British and Irish rugby club bars for the entire season. The experience of those who travelled to South Africa for the 1997 tour did much to fuel the explosion of interest. Little respect Then, as now, the hosts are the world champions and need the Lions' scalp to underline their supremacy. In both countries the home fans have little respect for the Northern Hemisphere game, even after defeat, making for a lively bar culture as the supporters exchange their opinions on the back of copious amounts of beer. The whole ethos of the Lions on the pitch is of "one team", where Home Union rivalry, particularly the hatred of England, is forgotten. The same largely applies among the supporters, most vividly displayed in South Africa by the joint renditions of "Flower of Scotland," "Bread of Heaven" (Wales) and, admittedly through some gritted Celtic teeth, England's "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." It made for a wonderful atmosphere in South Africa where the importance of the Lions had been stamped on the national psyche by their series victory over the Springboks in 1974. After the Lions repeated the dose with a 2-1 series victory in 1997, visiting fans from all four participating countries shook hands and vowed to meet again four years on in Australia. Rugby clubs started saving schemes and began fund-raising activities without a clue who would be in the Lions team in 2001. But they knew it was something not to be missed. Red shirts Australia may not have quite the same historical appreciation of the famous red shirts but the Wallabies' recent successes on the field have promoted the game to a new level in their country. The fans there are also after revenge after losing 2-1 in 1989 and expectation levels are huge. While the ultra-professional players now shun alcohol until the series is settled -- the Lions joined the fans for a huge party in 1997 after winning the second test to clinch the series -- supporters are anticipating a party every night. In fact for many the tour is one long drinking session, punctuated by the occasional sight-seeing trip and 10 rugby matches. The tour begins with a game against Western Australia in Perth on June 8 with only a thousand or so travelling fans expected to be present. The Lions then move to Queensland when their following will begin to grow, expanding further by the time they play New South Wales at the Sydney Football Stadium on June 23. Most visitors will be in the country by June 30 in time for the first test at Brisbane's Gabba, which holds just 37,000, but a last wave will time their arrival to take in the second and third tests. Some 8,000 have bought travel and ticket packages costing 3,000 pounds (US$4,255) with thousands more expected to make their own arrangements. The influx of fans is being greeted as another boost to Australia's tourism following last year's Olympics. Officials have predicted a boost to the Queensland economy alone of more than A$70 million with New South Wales likely to double the figure.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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