Women's rugby to get Lions tour?

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49150673
Tours of New Zealand, USA and Canada mooted

[Puja]

It's a great idea in theory, but I'm not sure about the depth in women's international rugby to make it work. Touring New Zealand would be great, but the USA and Canada couldn't put up a serious fight to England alone last month (and the Lions would be England + friends, so there wouldn't even be the challenge of trying to combine disparate teams that there is in men's rugby). And the gap is only going to grow as England have professional contracts and the US and Canada don't.

It'd likely work better touring France, although I'm not sure that'd carry the same cachet.

Puja

[Galfon]

Sure it would be popular with players and fans alike, and a commercial success, so why not crack on with it. Hunter is right though, it needs it's own identity.
'Lionesses'.. 'Mens' Lions Tour'..'Biggest Lions win ever'..
etc. please no, it would just get messy.

[richy678]

Same here - why not? - as a concept its good thing.

I do agree though that it is probably not being arrogant to say the Red Roses would possibly dominate selection - unless it goes quota.

Three back to back tests would possibly test the resources of another non-proffessional union playing (The Lionsesses) professional athletes, as it would with blokes and any sport really.

[fivepointer]

Could it be a commercial success? The recent games in the USA seemed to attract very small attendances. Is there sufficient depth to accommodate a tour and provide meaningful warm up games?
Nice idea in principle but i wonder if the Women's game is quite ready for it.