Rory Sutherland writes exclusively for The Hawick Paper

It has been a whirlwind few weeks, but I can’t get enough of this experience

As the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa continues, Rory Sutherland writes exclusively for The Hawick Paper

So much has happened in the last fortnight that in some ways the Japan game seems like a lifetime ago, but I will never forget that experience.

Running out in Edinburgh to represent the British & Irish Lions was everything I thought it would be and more. 

Having not played for three months due to injury I was pleased that I came through the game well, was pleased that we won and was especially pleased that my wife, my dad, my mum, my sister and my auntie and uncle were there at Murrayfield to see it live.

I was quite emotional that day and it continued later that evening back at the team hotel when injured captain Alun Wyn Jones presented the new players with their caps while our families – including my two boys – watched on via Zoom.

Last weekend it was brilliant to be at my first Lions match in South Africa when the guys played the Sigma Lions. I wasn’t in the matchday 23, but I was very impressed with how the squad played and it made me even more keen to pull on the famous red jersey again.

It was also nice to see my old pal Stuart Hogg captaining the Lions, a real honour for him for sure and one he richly deserved and he did it in his usual ‘lead from the front’ style.

My first chance to play on tour came on Wednesday night against the Cell C Sharks.

The couple of days leading up to the game were a bit different than normal with positive cases in camp and other people having to isolate, but the coaching staff, management and medical staff were brilliant and they really did keep those of us who were playing focused while the guys who came into the 23 at late notice also deserve great credit. 

The team played some great stuff in the first half and I was buzzing to get on and try and make an impact in the second period. I got on with half an hour to go and really enjoyed the challenge, I even got the ball in a bit of space at one point and tried my best to burst through the gap that opened up. 

Props always enjoy getting the ball in open field and I’ve heard the video of that run is doing the rounds on the internet which is fun – it’s always good to show up us front-rowers and our wide-ranging skill set in a positive light!

So, two wins on tour so far and everyone has played their part and we have also had a bit of adversity to deal with, but I must say this group has just gelled so well and it is a joy to be around.

There is such a good vibe about with everyone mucking in and the quality of the squad is so good that training every day is at such a high level and it is really spurring me on to improve as much as I can. The coaches test us too and I like that, it brings out the best in me.

Next up for us is another game on Saturday with the Sharks in Pretoria before we head to Cape Town for the next leg of this adventure – I can’t wait!

As told to Gary Heatly