LAND ROVER AND GATLAND ON THE HUNT FOR GRASSROOTS LIONS FANS

16 February 2017

Land Rover is scouring grassroots rugby for people who embody the game’s values of resilience, integrity and passion – to reward them with a trip to New Zealand for the British & Irish Lions Tour.

  • Land Rover is looking for grassroots rugby players and supporters in the UK and Ireland to join them on the British & Irish Lions 2017 Tour to New Zealand
  • Warren Gatland and Lions legends help Land Rover scout for amateurs from Whitton Lions RFC who embody the values of resilience, integrity and passion
  • Land Rover understands and shares the values that make rugby unique
  • Land Rover is a Principal Partner and Official Vehicle of the British & Irish Lions ‑ its sixth tour
  • Land Rover has rugby heritage at all levels and continues to champion the grassroots game through its ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign

Whitley, UK – 16 February 2017: Land Rover is scouring grassroots rugby for people who embody the game’s values of resilience, integrity and passion – to reward them with a trip to New Zealand for the British & Irish Lions Tour.

Warren Gatland helped kick off the search by surprising West London rugby club Whitton Lions RFC during training. The Lions Head Coach turned up with legendary Lions Brian O’Driscoll, Martin Johnson, Gavin Hastings and Sir Gareth Edwards. It was the first stop on a UK and Ireland tour by Land Rover to find players and supporters who deserve a trip to join the Lions in New Zealand for the first Test in Auckland in June.

Grassroots clubs can get involved with Land Rover’s British & Irish Lions competition by following @LandRoverRugby on Twitter.

To represent the British & Irish Lions is truly special but being a Lion is so much more than just being an exceptional rugby player. The values that make rugby unique are important to the Lions. At a grassroots level these values are just as apparent and coming down to see Whitton Lions train it is obvious there are some things that remain true no matter what level of rugby you are playing at.

Warren Gatland

When you become a British & Irish Lion you realise that so many of the aspects that make rugby special and unique are heightened, and that the values you learnt playing grassroots rugby are just as relevant at the pinnacle of the game. Land Rover’s competition aims to unearth players and fans from all levels of the game, who epitomise what makes the Lions so special. We are not looking for the best players but for individuals who deserve their very own Lions experience to join this summer’s tour.

Martin Johnson, Land Rover ambassador
and former British & Irish Lions winning captain

The surprise visit was the first in a series of Land Rover events during the build‑up to the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand, involving grassroots clubs, Land Rover retailers and rugby grounds around the UK and Ireland. A British & Irish Lions branded Land Rover vehicle was also unveiled at the Whitton Lions RFC event and will be used to tour the UK and Ireland to recruit entrants for Land Rover’s competition to win a trip to the first Test in New Zealand. 

The British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand 2017 will be Land Rover’s sixth tour and is testament to the brand’s heritage in supporting rugby at all levels.

Land Rover shares a renowned rugby heritage with the British & Irish Lions and is proud to have supported them for more than 20 years. Rugby’s values of resilience, integrity and passion resonate with Land Rover. Land Rover understands and shares the values that make rugby unique. Through the continuation of our Rugby World Cup 2015 ‘We Deal in Real’ campaign, Land Rover is celebrating the game’s grassroots and rewarding those who give so much each week, with an unforgettable British & Irish Lions experience.

Mark Cameron, Brand Experience Director,
Global Marketing at Jaguar Land Rover

Land Rovers Lions Launch 2017 V1

Further information

For more information about Land Rover’s British & Irish Lions competition, please follow @LandRoverRugby on Twitter.

For further information log onto www.media.landrover.com or contact:

Lydia Haley
Senior Press Officer
Land Rover PR
Tel: +44 2476564147   
Mobile: +44 7730 923507
Email: lhaley1@jaguarlandrover.com

Rebecca Wright
Press Officer
Land Rover UK PR
Tel: +44 7469 025 162
Email: rwright7@jaguarlandrover.com

Notes to Editors

Editors' Notes:

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