Before the World Cup was inaugurated in 1987, tours were the big thing in international rugby. And聽few matched the storied 1971 and 1974 tours by the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand and South Africa, respectively.
Island followers of the sport will get a rare treat today when former Irish star Fergus Slattery, a Lions player on both those tours, will sign autographs and meet with fans beginning at 3 p.m. at the Penny Farthing Pub in Oak Bay.
The connection is a series of mint-condition signed cartoon caricatures of the 1971 and 1974 Lions players that were bequeathed to Castaway Wanderers club member Dick Hales.
CW supporter/sponsor and publican Matt MacNeil, who owns the Penny Farthing, decided to make a permanent display of the caricatures on the wall of his Oak Bay establishment. MacNeil covered the cost to have Slattery flown out from Ireland to unveil the wall display today.
Master of ceremonies will be Gareth Rees, the Victoria rugby legend who played in four World Cups for sa国际传媒, two as captain.
All Island rugby fans are welcome to attend the event.
The 64-year-old Slattery had 61 caps for Ireland, 18 as captain, and four with the Lions.聽Slattery's club was Blackrock RFC聽and he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007.
