SAClips

This is a potted compilation from a programme from the series "Sporting Legends". It features the historic British Lions Rugby Union tour of 1974 to South Africa where they became the first Lions to remain unbeaten in all games (and were robbed in the Fourth Test!!... look up the records if you feel the need!!). The tour went ahead despite South Africa being in the grip of apartheid. I am not defending nor criticising the decision to tour. All this clip is designed to do is to show the camaraderie and unity of the players on that tour and the stories that are related by the wonderful Scottish lock forward, the late Gordon Brown and the sublime, lyrical captain of the Lions - Willie John McBride. Music played a large part in the unity of the team (as seen on this clip) and the emergence of the anthem "The Flower of Scotland" is shown within this. Sadly, Gordon Brown (who was such a natural and had a marvellous delivery of a story) is no longer with us as he died in 2001 at age of 53 and Roy Williamson (of the Scottish folk duo The Corries) who wrote the anthem in 1965 also died too young in 1990. I am not a rampant Scot but an "Anglicised Welshman" but I loved the corinthian spirit of Rugby Union at that time and the fire of the Celts. I hope you enjoy the clip and not view it in any political way.