The British & Irish Lions rugby team is one of the most revered institutions in world rugby and tours only Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in four-year cycles. The tours present a unique and historic challenge for the host union and local fans, and the official tour book of the Castle Series will be created to allow fans of both the Lions and the Springboks to keep the memories and special moments of this historic tour alive well after the final whistle has been blown.
“Professional rugby stars in a Wallaby, All Black or Springbok jersey will probably get the chance to compete in a World Cup, but not every player has the chance to face the combined might of the Home Unions,” says book editor David Moseley. “The Lions bring with them the weight of history, the romance of a bygone rugby era and great entertainment value,” adds Moseley. “The official tour book will capture all of that and more from this year's Castle Series.”
SA Rugby has called the tour “the last of the great rugby tours” and urged its suppliers to expect three times the demand for tickets, hospitality, media hype and memorabilia of a normal Test nation tour. “They priced tickets at over R1000 accordingly and have already sold out which is proof that a once-every-12-year rarity is a special thing in today's market of instant gratification,” says director of marketing and strategy at The Publish Partnership, Paul Ingpen.
The commemorative book aims to capture all these historic moments in vivid colour and expansive design. “At R195 for a hard-cover keepsake or gift we believe we're offering something with incredible value and leading retailers agree that we're onto a winner,” says Ingpen. As a 'revenge tour' (following 1997's heartbreaking loss for the Boks) the excitement will be even greater. “If the rugby delivers book sales will fly,” adds Ingpen.
The greatest portion the book will be dedicated to capturing the 2009 action with arresting visuals. Catering for the touring fan and the host fans by capturing the most vivid on-field moments, in pictures and in words, the official tour book of The Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series is intended to become a treasure chest of rugby memories.
