British and Irish Lions players will get a share of profits during next year's tour of Australia in a new financial partnership model, the team said on Monday.
The agreement will also lead to increased collaboration with players on scheduling and preparations, including a training camp before the tour and the pre-tour Lions 1888 Cup match in June, the team said in a statement.
Ireland's Peter O'Mahony said it was great to see a commitment to ensuring everyone benefited from the success of each tour. "To have the players’ voice heard and valued in shaping the team’s future is a very welcome development," England player Jamie George said.
Players earned a reported €53,500, plus bonuses, for the last tour in South Africa in 2021. Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said that the players' unions had played a key role in developing the new deal. "This landmark agreement highlights how (players) are at the centre of our thinking," he added.