Women’s British & Irish Lions tour would ‘help grow the game massively’

Scotland's Chloe Rollie and Megan Gaffney in action against Italy during the Women's Six Nations at Scotstoun. Picture: Ross MacDonald/SNS

Sam Warburton has given his full backing to the idea of a women’s British & Irish Lions tour.

Lions bosses held talks with the home unions about the creation of a women’s tour in 2019 and insurance company Royal London has agreed to fund a feasibility study into the idea.

Warburton, who twice captained men’s Lions tours, believes it would help raise the profile of the women’s game and lead to an increase in funding.

“It would be amazing, I’d absolutely love it,” he said.

“Obviously right now it would probably be dominated by English players, but then the incentive to play rugby would grow massively, the funding would grow massively in the other nations as well, a ladies’ Lions tour would be awesome.”

England are targeting a third successive Women’s Six Nations title this season and will play France in Saturday’s final. Scotland will meet Wales in a wooden spoon decider.

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