“That’s not just an impact to spectators that don’t get to go. It’s an impact to players who don’t get to play in front of fans too,” Waugh said.
“The last Lions experience for players who are backing up for this [tour] didn’t experience fans … I think that all that built up enthusiasm and excitement has come through for eight years rather than just the usual four.”
The three-Test series kicks off at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 19 before moving on to the MCG on July 26, with the final Test at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on August 2.
Former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams, who faced the Lions in the drawn Test series in 2017, said a Lions tour represented the pinnacle of the sport.
“Some people, some households, save their whole lives to go on the Lions tour,” Williams said. “For some people, it’s more important than a Rugby World Cup. So when you understand that, just think of the pinnacle of sport.
Loading
“For some people, that’s what this is. I didn’t really understand it until I actually went through it, and it’s massive. Playing in a World Cup at home is massive. The Lions tour is massive.”
Waugh said he wasn’t surprised by the huge demand for the tour.
“The energy of four rugby-loving nations embraces Australia,” said Waugh. “You’ve seen the growth through the Six Nations, you’ve seen the growth through what’s occurred in the north around Test matches and that energy and enthusiasm is embarking on Australia.”
“Just seeing that progress and the growth of the significance of the tour, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger and rightfully so.
“I think that, naturally, all sorts of Australians … are getting more interested in big live sporting market events – and this is one of them.”
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand.
