Piers Morgan — the loudmouth British journo who’s never shy to ruffle feathers — has turned his fire onto rugby, dropping his all-time British & Irish Lions XV.
No surprises here: Morgan’s backing his picks like they’re gospel, daring anyone to argue. Expect the fanboys to blow a gasket.
Here’s the lowdown on his lineup:
2
MORGAN'S ALL-TIME BRITISH & IRISH LIONS XV
Front Row Powerhouses
Loosehead Prop: Jason Leonard (England)
Known as “The Fun Bus,” Leonard’s record 114 caps for England and three Lions tours earn him Morgan’s nod. A true scrum anchor.
Known as “The Fun Bus,” Leonard’s record 114 caps for England and three Lions tours earn him Morgan’s nod. A true scrum anchor.
Hooker: Keith Wood (Ireland)
The “Raging Potato” was an unstoppable force for the Lions, with his dynamic playmaking and unmatched work rate.
The “Raging Potato” was an unstoppable force for the Lions, with his dynamic playmaking and unmatched work rate.
Tighthead Prop: Fran Cotton (England)
The man behind the iconic mud-covered Lions photo, Cotton brought grit and leadership to the pack.
The man behind the iconic mud-covered Lions photo, Cotton brought grit and leadership to the pack.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Towering Locks
Lock: Martin Johnson (England)
England’s World Cup-winning captain and Lions talisman is a no-brainer for Morgan.
England’s World Cup-winning captain and Lions talisman is a no-brainer for Morgan.
Lock: Willie John McBride (Ireland)
The legendary Irish lock and record-setting Lions captain gets the nod for his incredible legacy.
The legendary Irish lock and record-setting Lions captain gets the nod for his incredible legacy.
Dynamic Back Row
Flanker: Richard Hill (England)
The silent assassin of England’s back row, Hill’s work rate and defensive mastery make him indispensable.
The silent assassin of England’s back row, Hill’s work rate and defensive mastery make him indispensable.
Flanker: Fergus Slattery (Ireland)
A key figure in the famous 1974 Lions tour, Slattery’s athleticism and leadership stood out.
A key figure in the famous 1974 Lions tour, Slattery’s athleticism and leadership stood out.
Number 8: Mervyn Davies (Wales)
“Merv the Swerve” combined elegance and power, making him one of the greatest to ever wear the No. 8 jersey.
“Merv the Swerve” combined elegance and power, making him one of the greatest to ever wear the No. 8 jersey.
Halfback Legends
Scrum-half: Gareth Edwards (Wales)
Arguably the greatest rugby player of all time, Edwards’ creativity and athleticism earn him this spot.
Arguably the greatest rugby player of all time, Edwards’ creativity and athleticism earn him this spot.
Fly-half: Barry John (Wales)
“The King” of fly-halves, John’s flair and precision set the standard for generations.
“The King” of fly-halves, John’s flair and precision set the standard for generations.
2
Electrifying Backline
Winger: Tony O’Reilly (Ireland)
A Lions record try-scorer, O’Reilly’s speed and finishing ability were unmatched.
A Lions record try-scorer, O’Reilly’s speed and finishing ability were unmatched.
Centre: Scott Gibbs (Wales)
Known for his thunderous tackling and powerful runs, Gibbs epitomized the Lions’ physicality.
Known for his thunderous tackling and powerful runs, Gibbs epitomized the Lions’ physicality.
Centre: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
A modern-day legend, “BOD” dazzled with his creativity, leadership, and incredible try-scoring record.
A modern-day legend, “BOD” dazzled with his creativity, leadership, and incredible try-scoring record.
Winger: Gerald Davies (Wales)
A master of sidesteps and acceleration, Davies terrorized defences on Lions tours.
A master of sidesteps and acceleration, Davies terrorized defences on Lions tours.
Fullback: JPR Williams (Wales)
The iconic Welshman’s fearless style and rock-solid defence make him Morgan’s ultimate No. 15.
The iconic Welshman’s fearless style and rock-solid defence make him Morgan’s ultimate No. 15.
Morgan’s XV spans eras and nations, but will it win over the fans? One thing’s for sure: he’s loving the attention. Let the debates begin!
