Do the British & Irish Lions sing a national anthem? They did once and it was awful

Tuesday, 15 April 2025 at 21:00

byRugby Rucker

Do the British & Irish Lions sing a national anthem? Well, in May 2005, the British & Irish Lions faced Argentina at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in a rare home warm-up match before their ill-fated New Zealand tour.

Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia

It was supposed to be a celebratory send-off, but instead, it ended in a stuttering 25-25 draw against a depleted Pumas outfit.

The game – later granted full test status by the IRB – was described as “a bit of a wake-up call” and set the tone for a disastrous few months ahead for Sir Clive Woodward's side.

Do the British & Irish Lions sing a national anthem. Enter: The Anthem Nobody Asked For

In a bid to make history, Woodward didn’t just bring 44 players on tour — he brought music. The coach commissioned a brand-new Lions anthem, titled became a footnote in Lions history.

“The Power of Four”, composed by Neil Myers. It was intended to be a rousing, unifying anthem for the four home nations.

Performed live for the first (and only) time by Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins before the Argentina game, it was supposed to stir emotions and spark togetherness.

The Reaction? Total Silence

Instead, fans barely noticed. The anthem completely failed to land. Supporters forgot it existed almost immediately, and on the pitch, the players showed zero interest. During performances, not a single player sang along. Not one.

The idea was quietly shelved after the New Zealand tour — never to return. Despite Woodward’s best intentions, The Power of Four

What Was It Actually Like?

Musically, the anthem wasn’t awful — but it wasn’t memorable either. It tried to blend classical gravitas with inspirational lyrics about unity and strength. Unfortunately, it lacked the fire and familiarity that fans associate with iconic rugby anthems.

Critics described it as dull and uninspiring. And without national identity behind it, it had no emotional pull.

Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions

The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton’s podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there's no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.

Here’s how Biggar’s team shaped up…

Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong

It’s an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster's dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.

Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne

4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne

England’s Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He’s paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.

Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)

6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England’s Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland’s Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who’s fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.

Livewire half-backs: Gibson-Park & Russell

9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell

Gone are the days of conservative Lions 9-10 combos. Biggar’s gone full jazz here. Gibson-Park brings the zip, and Russell… well, Russell brings the flair. The Scotland maestro’s creativity earns him the No.10 jersey over Biggar himself – no ego here.

Fire on the flanks: Lowe & Kinghorn

11. James Lowe
14. Blair Kinghorn

Two versatile Scots fill the wing slots, with Kinghorn’s blend of size and speed complementing Lowe’s relentless work rate and booming left boot. Biggar clearly values adaptability out wide – and a bit of flair never hurts.

Caledonian connection in midfield: Tuipulotu & Jones

12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones

The Glasgow Warriors pairing have formed one of the deadliest centre combos in rugby, and Biggar’s kept them together. It’s a bold call, but one based on form and synergy rather than reputation alone.

Rock-solid fullback: Hugo Keenan

15. Hugo Keenan

No surprise here – Keenan has been Ireland’s Mr Consistent, and Biggar trusts him to be the safety net at the back. His positioning, aerial ability and counter-attacks make him a nailed-on pick.

The bench: a mix of muscle and mischief

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Zander Fagerson, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith

It’s a stacked bench with serious impact. Genge and Fagerson bring brute force, while Earl and Morgan cover the back row with pace and punch. Marcus Smith adds some stardust, and Mitchell offers serious tempo at scrum-half.