The most inspiring speeches in rugby 🦁

Ten of the best Lions speeches from over the years 🦁 Every four years the Lions brings together the best of the best rugby players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to Tour and some of the speeches from those series have been incredible....

[@jeremycameron3379]

As a Kiwi, this is unreal to watch. Sir Ian is a legend! what a legend of the game. Always held in the highest regard here in NZ! The Lions have a very special place in Rugby.

[@maidenaholic]

Willie mcbride, what a man, his speeches are soft but hit so hard. You have to respect that man

[@tommypienaar9968]

The Pinnacle of of Rugby to me! As a Springbok fan at 11 Years old in 1974, I remember the lashing at Loftus, and others. But I have not missed any tour since then. Long live The British & Irish Lions!

[@bigbaker1200]

Have to say I found Lawrence’s so each the most emotional. His quivering lip and the emotion. Can’t help feeling he was thinking of his sister. She was watching and she was proud.

[@royroyston8480]

Very true. She died tragically in the Marchioness disaster. He was certainly thinking of her during his speech.

[@glennmccormack9834]

The raw emotion from Sir Ian McGeechan is just incredible to watch. Every single one of those gave me goosebumps. The honour to be a Lion will never be matched. I will watch this for the rest of my days.

[@thomasluke980]

As a Bok fan , it gives me goosebumps listening to these great speeches. Can you imagine being selected for the Lions and then taking on the Rugby Giants in their backyard?

[@flaviovannetvistaa]

And then losing

[@lilalife666]

well, enjoy the future of rugby, it comes from europe..watch as we put our 3rd and soemtimes 4th most popular sport towering over your first@@flaviovannetvistaa

[@robinstevenson1098]

Should have picked Finn

[@bryancorcoran760]

When Willie said you are representing 4 countries yes we are long live the lions

[@RazorMouth]

At least he didn't say 5 😂

[@martybourke2428]

Willie could have just sat there and stared at you and that would have given you the message

[@FannyShmellar]

@@RazorMouthWhy be so pathetic.

[@hoddy1]

Jim Telfer, unquestionably

[@jep1912]

Geech was my school master in Leeds, he inspired me then, he inspires us now. The greatest speech in my living memory. He was a wonderful coach and teacher and father-figure. Never do we listen more than when the noise is quiet, intense and delivered with a soft hammer blow.

[@paulshepherd1670]

Am not a union fan I follow league but listening to these great men talk with such passion about the game is truly inspiring. Great stuff.

[@MrGooders007]

If you can watch this and not be in bits at the end then you're missing a heart and a soul

[@dezmundo1251]

The bit wear Sir Ian starts crying never fails to set me off too. That is everything you need to know about rugby and being a man right there.

[@terrymccannminder748]

I’m a footy player an a robber. But I’m retired now. These fellas r true warriors💪

[@neil5006]

I’m already excited for the next series. Great tradition 🦁

[@davidwilliams6525]

No 6 for me. Alun Wyn Jones from Wales. "Do not give up on anything". Encouragement at its best. True Welsh Spirit!! As the MSP said in "Postcards from a Young Man", "The World Will Not Impose its Will. I Will Not Give in and I will Not Give Up".

[@UKsoldier45]

Sir Ian, wonderful!! Respect!

[@user-hd2zm6jj6r]

As a proud Scotsman I love that AWJ is in so many of these.

[@creationsunlimited7533]

I have blood from all four countries running through my veins though born in England. I have immense respect for a team that comes together once every four years with an ever changing line up and competes against the greatest in world rugby in their own backyard. If Australia, New Zealand and South Africa don't respect the Lions then they don't understand brotherhood and don't understand the meaning of being British.

[@lewissmith3896]

Amen to that.

[@LeMerch]

and Irish.

[@maciuhakwins4398]

I think the ANZACs know what brotherhood is about haha also I know the Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans hugely respect the Lions.

[@robinstevenson1098]

and Ulstermen, a quibble, certainly Irish but also in Rugby. We play for our nice little archipelago: ) I’m north british

[@bryancorcoran760]

Seeing what it means to Sir Ian is what a true lions means in tears but thank you Sir Ian

[@jep1912]

17 minutes of goosebumps from the greatest touring side in the world. I hope to be in OZ in 2025 as we live here now. Roar boys..... roar.

[@2TNOIR]

We were there in 2013 and it has been a long time coming around. Media are talking about Eddie Jones building for the 2027 World Cup but the 2025 Lions is the one he really wants. Claws out boys and lets deal to the Wobblies

[@TommyByrne-hc5nr]

What a bunch of warriors true grit God bless them all

[@joshkarena3058]

I was fortunate and privileged to meet this great tower of a man in my youth when he came to New Zealand in 1971 with The British and Irish Lions.

[@themoz1965]

Awesome , the passion , the emotion , love the lions

[@mickser101]

No.1 was spot on. JT was a great motivator

[@johnflanagan5123]

I loved watching this.

[@MrMollypockets]

Folks, most of us, sitting on our sofa with our tv remote are thinking, wow, great collection of human talent and sporting giants right there and secretly thinking, "I really wish I was as talented as those guys" ,,,well, I am here to tell you that you are. You may not be a great rugby player, you may not be a great soccer player, but as sure as night follows day, you ,,,,,,,yes you,,,,,,,are sitting on the ability to be a great human being.If, by this stage in your life ,no matter your age, you have not achieved greatness its more than likely you just doubted yourself. So, if you are a father be a great father, a daughter, be a great daughter, a nurse, a bricklayer, etc, Folks, if you whole heartedly try to be great you WILL be great, you may not be the best at anything but you really can be great at anything, so, go on, give it a go.

[@ianbolan3488]

Vivian Jenkins played on the 1938 tour to South Africa, He was prepared to go without pay to play for the British Lions, I'd like to think that would be the attitude today.

[@timjr4437]

Some great speeches thank you. Really interesting to see the character and emotion of the various coaches. It would be good to know the score/results of the subsequent matches.

[@HGee420]

That Andy Farrell speech is like a fucking manuscript for life!! Love it!

[@viliametiko391]

Awesome stuff....❤

[@UKsoldier45]

Great work! Inspirational stuff!

[@mpho87]

Love this video and so happy almost every motivation speech they needed was against my Springboks who are about to defend their WC Champ status.

[@keithmcclean4371]

Fantastic

[@SuperKingevan]

This is your Everest boys! What a speech holy shit you would go out there and die for a man who gave that speech what a performance as well out ruck them, out drive them out tackle them till they are fucking sick of it!

[@mattleyland194]

It must be fantastic to represent your country at in any sport, but I think representing the lions goes way beyond that. Jim Telfer’s number one speech is probably the best uplift you can get.

[@peterthomson1495]

Fantastic viewing goosebumps

[@drrd4127]

"The British Lions" It's the British AND Irish Lions. Look, I am British but please don't forget the Irish.

[@LeMerch]

Well said. But when its said, we know they mean both so no big deal.

[@themunter4488]

Jim Telfer legend , but its strange looking back and listening to Farrel I can see now how and why he has had such an impact on Ireland

[@markburkin8750]

Each one of these speeches makes me well up. There is nothing in sport that matches the lions. Nothing.

[@vaughancapstick9961]

❤.....wow

[@declanmccabe9063]

Video is missing McGeechans 97 pre 2nd Test speech one of the best

[@themunter4488]

1997 just my best memory

[@markdyer2155]

They are all great, of course, and we could debate whether Sir Ian's is better than Jim Telfer's and so on, but why do so. However, surely the best of all time was Sir Ian's before the second test in SA 1997 in the meeting room? Quiet, assured, forceful - there's a time and place for punching holes in walls but he tapped into what would make the players think and how to reinforce the team ethos. That one gets me going every time.

[@tonymcgrath700]

I remember that one, his calm quiet way gave me goosebumps

[@gwynjames]

The British lions,the pinnacle in rugby Union ,how it must feel to be picked to play for that team ,wow amazing,the lions roar 🦁and to wear that shirt FFS

[@shaunbainbridge1584]

Some were good, a couple great and then there’s Jim Telfer and Sir Ian. The Lions is special. ‘97 was special. Why? Because with the Lions you are trying to bring players together from 4 different countries, who have a habit of not liking each other and play in an annual competition where they can knock the living shit out of each other and laugh about it. Some of they very best from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England have never represented the Lions. Only a few have represented the many. That is why the Lions is special.

[@user-jq3hr7wl6o]

You'd run through brick walls for Jim Telfer.

[@petelosuaniu]

All talk. If you’re not motivated by that stage, no amount of glorious talk will do it.

[@kevinparsons8550]

I'm counting down the days Faz Snr finally becomes England head coach

[@mrchico2621]

Should have kept the swearing in though.

[@22grena]

A Farrell speech where he says ''the British Lions''.

[@alanrossiter6626]

Yeah, a slip. He's Irish now! And we love him, what a guy.

[@themoravianeagle3215]

I was waiting for this comment.What a clown!

[@themoravianeagle3215]

​@@alanrossiter6626he is not.He is mercenary!

[@borugby]

Fuck I love rugby

[@MrLukeyhym]

Cannot understand why you censor the language in these videos. What’s the point?

[@smartrfid9366]

Why can’t our political leaders be this inspiring.

[@RazorMouth]

Beat team sport in the world. WAR 💪

[@Darragh-mt9me]

The English always forget it’s British and Irish

[@johnphelan5936]

If they were as good at rugby as they are at talking theyd be away with it.

[@mrdeafa25]

Howcome they dont win much?

[@padawan9127]

Why do you think we watch videos of speeches 😅😅

[@ashleyshipp8340]

It should say yeah because once the rugby union game starts it will put you to sleep.

[@jasoncoetzee7517]

You hardly compete with the southern hemisphere teams

[@vinycrimbo8692]

We do in world cups!! Ireland - South Africa or Wales -Australia.

[@fergusmurphy3724]

Some great speeches but never understood why they got Willie John McBride to speak twice with only one tour in between and he repeated the ‘today you’ll have to reach in to the very depths of your…’ blah blah blah. Not very original or imaginative. Should have got someone else to speak in 09

[@munstermaverick365]

probably because he is the Greatest British and Irish Lion....EVER.

[@fergusmurphy3724]

@@munstermaverick365 from the amateur era. There’s a massive difference. Boring and uninspiring hearing from the same old codger more than once. I’m sure the players would agree with me

[@martybourke2428]

Fergus , W J is the pinnacle of locks, if the shadow of his words dont fire you up then your in wrong game..

[@eugenedempsey2838]

And I think Willie John's Mcbride all Lions caps were as captain

[@oldmanwillyboy2786]

Surely, the only measure of an inspirational speech, is how successful the recipients of said speech are? Unfortunately the Lions have too few Series wins for there to be a top10!

[@casualsports90]

Obviously you don't understand how special and how much of a privilege it is to put on a Lions shirt considering so few get the opportunity!

[@oldmanwillyboy2786]

@@casualsports90 Obviously, you wouldn't have the slightest idea what I'm talking about, being a fan of the round ball "sport!" Returd!

[@Kkpb-fh5vt]

Yeah. Completely stupid statement.

[@SupremeBros2012]

The legacy of the lions alone warrants a recreation of these speeches It’s not just about the W alone 😊

[@oldmanwillyboy2786]

@@SupremeBros2012 And that attitude is why our Lions rarely beat th Saffa's or ''''''''''''''kiwis.............Pretending that 2nd prizes are sufficient? No thanks, I'll take the "W" everytime!

[@DazBag78]

The crying part at the end is just too much haha, it's just a game

[@SAnd-pd1ou]

Shame Gatland ruined the Lions

[@martybourke2428]

And Wales,

[@vinycrimbo8692]

Garland ruined Australia yesterday.

[@jonathanklynhans8413]

The lions suck

[@bryancorcoran760]

These speeches wow totally in tears with what it means to be a lions

[@nickfoster4361]

All these speeches and still they lose lmao

[@ashleybrook811]

Fuck i miss rugby like this!

[@justinherlihy279]

Great motivational and moving speeches. Notice that there were none from 2005

[@jamiejp4007]

Dallaglio was 05