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25th October 2024
02:02pm BST
Donncha O'Callaghan has recalled a 'spray tan' phenomenon that took over the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
The iconic northern hemisphere versus southern hemisphere encounter has thrown up some brilliant moments over the years.
One which immediately comes to mind is the time Ireland winger Simon Zebo had to prank call his provincial coach Rob Penney to convince the Kiwi that he should take over from Doug Howlett as Munster captain.
The British and Irish Lions tour in the early noughties was a particularly special time. The likes of Ronan O'Gara, Brian O'Driscoll, Johnny Wilkinson, Paul O'Connell, Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Two of the stars of the 2009 tour, Donncha O'Callaghan and Tommy Bowe revealed a very unusual story while chatting on their new The Offload podcast.
"I'll never forget that Lions Tour in 2009," said O'Callaghan. The pair then went on to say: "So normally in the team room there's like a whiteboard for activities, so you might put down 'thinking of going to the cinema at nine o'clock' or 'playing monopoly at four o'clock throw your name on the board'.
"I think it was James Hook came in and put down spray tans tonight boys, seven o'clock, Sandra is going to spray lads down'."
O'Callaghan continued: "I was there, 'fair play to Hooky he's gas', but straight away all the boys started coming in, Andy Powell came in and went 'Awww spray tans tonight boys!!!' He was thrilled throwing his name up on the board.
"I remember throwing Paulie's name up on the board just purely for the craic, thinking how will this turn out.
"(Gavin Henson) used to have the wipes, on that Lions Tour he'd a bag with wipes in it that would tan in case he lost a bit off his face."
To be honest, when you look back at images from that tour, it's fair to assume that the majority of the squad were more than happy to put themselves forward for the tanning.
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