Neil Back tells England Lions to play hard on tour

Dubai: A return to rugby’s “amateur ethos” could be key if the British and Irish Lions are to win their first series since 1997 when they go to Australia this summer, according to former flanker Neil Back.

England great Back was on that tour to South Africa in 1997 and also went to Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005 with the Lions. And he believes the players named in the squad announced by coach Warren Gatland on Tuesday will perform better if they are given the chance to relax and socialise during the June 22 to July 6 tour.

“Why haven’t we won since 1997? Well, I was fortunate enough to be on that tour and it was the first tour in the professional era that still had a lot of the amateur ethos behind it,” Back told Gulf News.

“We had a good time singing with a few drinks and that social side of it enabled the squad to blend very quickly. Warren Gatland has to — without it being detrimental to performance — get the right blend of players who will socialise and have a good time off the field and take that excitement and enthusiasm onto the field.”

Back added: “When we went to Australia [in 2001] we probably played better rugby [than 1997] but we lost the series, so you have to find the right balance.”