Maro Itoje eager to preserve ‘history and tradition’ of Lions tours

Maro Itoje insists long-haul travel must remain a feature of British and Irish Lions tours amid calls for new territories to be added to their list of destinations.

The Lions currently visit Australia, New Zealand and South Africa on rotation, but there has been growing support for rugby-loving France to join them because of the strength of their Test team and club game, as well as the commercial opportunities.

But three days after leading Andy Farrell’s men to a series-clinching victory over the Wallabies, with Saturday’s final Test in Sydney still to play, Itoje revealed his preference is for the Lions’ heritage to be preserved.

“I thought about this at the beginning of the tour. My answer is, with the three nations that the Lions tour, there’s a strong sense of history and tradition,” Itoje said.

“Perhaps the Lions is the last of the traditional organisations in the modern era. Part of me is keen for it to continue to rotate among the three countries it does. But, that being said, you have to stay relatively open-minded.

“As it stands, the three nations it tours is pretty good. Also it wouldn’t feel the same if we took a short-haul flight. It needs a long-haul flight.”

The Lions’ passage through Australia had been something of a procession until they reached Melbourne, where they were pushed to the brink first by the First Nations and Pasifika XV and then the Wallabies.

The 29-26 triumph in the second Test, made possible by overturning an 18-point deficit, will go down as one of the greatest games in their history and has provided validation for the entire 2025 expedition.

Furthermore, with a record crowd for a Lions match in attendance at Melbourne Cricket Ground, it was a reminder of their pulling power, with Itoje