Inside the Lions camp: Andy Farrell goes to extreme lengths to protect his plans in Portugal as two Premier League stars are spotted
At the luxurious Campus training centre in Quinta do Lago on Wednesday, the locals turning up for their padel and tennis matches and Pilates sessions were shocked at what they found.
Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall, already preparing for pre-season with Eddie Howe’s side on the Algarve, looked especially surprised at the increased security as he headed for a kickabout.
But this is what happens when the British & Irish Lions are in town. Everything goes up a notch. Patrolling the entrance next to the pristine playing surface, Lions bodyguards told wealthy Portuguese gym goers – one of whom arrived in a Porsche 911 – not to dawdle or take pictures or videos of Andy Farrell’s men in training. The Lions run a tight ship.
They are spending this week in plush surroundings, but the last thing head coach Farrell wants is any detail around his team’s preparations for Australia leaking out.
‘This is very Andy,’ a senior Lions source told Rugby Confidential of the team’s Portugal getaway. Farrell knows the Campus well having taken his Ireland team to the venue on multiple previous occasions. Now in charge of the Lions, he has a 24-man squad for the first training camp of the tour as next Friday’s opener with Argentina in Dublin looms into focus.
The Campus’ shop normally sells just tennis, padel and gym gear. But this week, Lions merchandise can also be bought. The famous red shirts were certainly proving of interest. ‘There are padel slots available. Some may get to the golf course if they can,’ said Lions forwards coach John Dalziel of the team’s social plans.‘
Henry Pollock and the Lions mascot Bill were introduced in the plush Quinta do Lago campus
Maro Itoje and Co set to work with a gym session in their Portuguese training base
The luxury facility is used by a host of sports stars and Andy Farrell has been there before
There are a lot of keen golfers in the squad. Thursday and Friday are going to be our two big training days. I’m sure they’ll want to fly into that.
‘There was the handover of Bill the Lion to young Henry Pollock which was the first official thing. I’m sure the players will find time to have fun. That’s really important.’
The Lions’ Portugal squad is without the players selected by Farrell from Bath and Leicester as they prepare to meet in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final.
Absent, too, are the Leinstermen who are in Dublin for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship title decider against the Bulls. To ensure the locals weren’t put out too much and that their needs were catered for, the Lions have built a bespoke outdoor gym next to their designated rugby field.
On Wednesday, the players got down to work in the sweltering heat. Quinta do Lago is a popular destination for elite sports teams. Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was a known fan of the venue during his glittering career and it is here that England’s footballers prepared for their 2014 World Cup campaign under Roy Hodgson.
Earlier on Wednesday, Lions captain Maro Itoje passed the team’s fluffy mascot Bill to Pollock, the youngest member of the squad at 20. Pollock must keep Bill with him at all times or risk a fine. Dalziel hinted Pollock didn’t last long before losing his new best friend.
Two noticeable presences in Portugal were Farrell’s son Gabriel, who is seen as a promising player in Ireland, and assistant coach Johnny Sexton’s son Luca. Pollock and his Northampton, England and Lions compatriot Tommy Freeman are back in Portugal for the second time in quick succession.
At the end of May, with their club season done and dusted, the pair released the pressure valve on their professional rugby careers in the Algarve party town of Albufeira. In Freeman’s own words, the Northampton players went ‘really hard’, letting their hair down in a brief break before heading to Australia.
The facility, boasting padel courts and a range of sporting facilities is the Lions’ new home
Marcus Smith and the other 23 players in Portugal are preparing to face Argentina
Beers were the focus, not blitz defence. This week, their Portugal agenda couldn’t be more different. ‘It’s so important to have that break. It was definitely needed,’ said Pollock. ‘Sometimes, things can get too much, so it’s important to step away and let your hair down.
‘It’s important to remember you’re still 20 and have a good time.’ This time last year, Pollock was winning a Junior World Cup with England’s Under-20 side. He is now a Lion after a stunning breakthrough campaign.
‘The last 12 months have accelerated probably at a rate I wouldn’t have expected,’ he said. ‘If you’d said this time last year I’d be a Lion, I’d probably have slapped you in the back of the head. It’s been mad. I’m very focused on the next job and being better, not what’s gone. I’m still learning loads and I’m definitely not the finished article. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There are world-class players I’ve been looking up to for a long time now. I feel very privileged and honoured to share a field with them and learn off them.’
Pollock was 12 when the Lions famously drew their Test series with New Zealand in 2017. Itoje, Tadhg Furlong and Elliot Daly were all on that trip and are now Pollock’s Lions team-mates.‘
‘The Lions is the pinnacle. I can’t speak for the boys who have done it, because I haven’t yet, but in my opinion, it’s the best thing you can experience in the sport,’ added Pollock.
Pollock is the youngest member of the squad and must take Bill with him everywhere
Trossard and Pardew dine with Lions execs
Arsenal star Leandro Trossard and former Premier League boss Alan Pardew were notable figures at the Algarve restaurant where Lions executives dined on Wednesday night.
The Lions are training in Quinta do Lago this week — a plush part of the Iberian coast where the local residents park their sports cars before playing Padel tennis — and they were joined at the seaside restaurant Maria’s by the footballers.
Serenaded by Gala’s Freed from Desire and Young Hearts, Run Free by Candi Staton, Trossard and the other boozy revellers drank their glasses of Vino Verde on the roof terrace as the sun set on their season.
Sarries on the attack with Dai
Saracens have moved to add Welshman Dai Flanagan to their coaching team. Kevin Sorrell is leaving the London club this club this summer, leaving a vacancy for a new attack chief.
Flanagan left the Dragons last November and is understood to be Mark McCall’s preferred candidate to take over from Sorrell. Saracens are also in talks to bring Owen Farrell back from Racing 92 but the No 10 is not yet ready to take on a full-time coaching role.
McGuigan in talks over Ealing move
England Saxons hooker George McGuigan is in talks with Ealing. McGuigan left Gloucester in March to sign a short-term injury-cover deal with the Ospreys.
Now the 32-year-old is among a number of players looking for a new club, with Championship outfit Trailfinders expressing a strong interest in his signature.
George McGuigan, formerly of Gloucester, could join Ealing Trailfinders next season
Australia prepare for Lions with trip to the zoo!
The Wallabies stepped up their promotional campaign for this summer’s Lions tour by holding their media session at a Sydney Zoo. The likes of Joseph Sua’ali’i and Andrew Kellaway held their interviews in front of real-life lions.
Rugby fans were relieved to see Sua’ali’i at the event after he broke his jaw. ‘Nobody wants to crash the Ferrari. That’s not what anyone wants,’ joked Kellaway, referring to new Wallaby superstar Sua’ali’I who has said he’ll be fit to take on the Lions.
Worcester nab Seabrook
Tom Seabrook’s reported deal with Leicester appears to have been a red herring. Rugby Confidential understands the wing, who has been released by Northampton, has instead signed for revived Worcester who will be in the Championship next season.
