Look, it’s great for team bonding and all but just cool yer jets a bit.
The British & Irish Lions are going gung-ho with choir practice in an effort to get this squad of four different national teams into some sort of harmony.
The idea harks back to Lions tours of yore and it is something several of the Welsh squad have championed in recent years. With 12 of them in the current Lions squad, it is no massive surprise to see the choir is back in action.
There was nightly practice on week one for the squad, at Vale of Glamorgan, and the new arrivals caught up with more choral singing at Carton House, last week.
The 11 players, including Munster’s three squad members, Leigh Halfpenny and Jack Nowell, that only linked up with the squad on Sunday have some catching up to do. Still, they put in a decent performance of Fields of Athenry on Sunday:
I've been to a few gigs at The Roundhouse but none quite like this. The Lions perform Fields of Athenry at their farewell dinner pic.twitter.com/RTOi4pOmqh
— Alex Lowe 📰 (@AlexMLowe) May 28, 2017
The squad has been practising songs and hymns from each of the four nations represented – Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales – and they’ve been using every opportunity they can squeeze in to perfect the beat.
From looking at two of the most recent videos, posted by Halfpenny and the Lions, Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw is still finding his feet with this whole choir lark.
In fairness to the Athlone native, he’s been bloody well hard at it since linking up with the squad.
Still, he doesn’t quite have that full-on enthusiasm of the Welsh lads when it comes to belting out a choir hymn.
Leigh Halfpenny’s video
Look at the Welsh boys – Liam Williams and Rhys Webb – loving it. Robbie is trying his best.Touch down with a sing song. Lads are hitting the right notes already 👊🏼Welcome to Auckland 👋🏼🦁 @lionsofficial #AllForOne 🎼 pic.twitter.com/AU6EBUrsAG
— Leigh Halfpenny (@LeighHalfpenny1) May 31, 2017
Upon touching down at Auckland International Airport, the squad cracked out Welsh hymn Calon Lan. Sean O’Brien was getting right into it but, just behind him, Henshaw was not so passionate.
British & Irish Lions video
That’s the right attitude. Don’t force these things; it’ll come.
The squad are settling in for their first day on tour in New Zealand and will do some gentle stretching and pool work to shake off the rust from two long haul flights. They play New Zealand Barbarians on Saturday and Henshaw will be hoping to be involved.
