Generations divide them, but in their own way they are deeply attractive men with stories that cross rugby. McBrid played through troubles, an Ulseter Protestant and an Irish captain, who used rugby to try to build a bridge between the two fighting communities, while others were trying to fly them.
Appreciation comes in a different form for Itoze – seriously deprived children of Nigeria, land of birth of their parents, in their work in giving a proper education. Through his pearl fund, he is making a difference in the lives of orphan, fatherless and poverty -stricken young people.
MCBride plays the game Iteoj, but he knew how he felt on Saturday night. “I am very grateful and it is clearly a tremendous respect for being in such a respected company,” Itoze says that when he has now joined.
“When I get old and gray these opportunities and these tourism are going as experiences I see with extreme hobby.
“I would be surprised that if you can find a British and Irish rugby player, who says that they do not want to be a lion. This is something that every player has dear to his heart. This is something that players want and players want for decades and until the rugby is being played.
“You don’t have many shots on it. The next tour is never guaranteed. There is a rareness for this. If you remember one, you can never have another opportunity.
“It has been said earlier, but in many ways, it should not actually work. You have four different nations, four different ideologies, how to play games and many different ways of how to think.
“This is not a homogeneous group, but people buy and you make great relationships and you create bonds. This is what makes it special.”
