Andy Powell ends retirement for ‘rare’ British and Irish Lions Legends opportunity
Andy Powell on the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour in South Africa
Former Wales international Andy Powell is coming out of retirement after receiving an invite to play for the British and Irish Lions Legends against Australia in July – the month before his 44th birthday.
The 2009 Lions tourist under Warren Gatland hung up the boots in 2016 due to a recurring knee injury, but he has now been selected on a 32-strong Legends squad consisting of 13 English, eight Irish, six Welsh and five ex-Scottish players.
Powell will be joined on the trip by numerous other former Lions tourists, including Welsh duo Shane Williams and Leigh Halfpenny, Irish front-rowers Shane Byrne and Tom Court, and England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall.
The series against the Classic Wallabies with be a two-match contest, starting in Melbourne on July 24 and finishing in Sydney on July 31.
Chuffed with the chance to tour, Powell wrote on LinkedIn: “Over a month ago, I was presented with an incredible opportunity and since then, I have had numerous heartfelt discussions with my family about whether to embrace it.
“I don’t miss those gruelling training sessions…”
“Reflecting on my time in professional rugby, I fondly remember the exhilarating highs of the sport. I was fortunate in terms of physicality, but now, having retired quite some time ago, I don’t miss those gruelling training sessions that stretched on day after day.
“However, after spending the last month contemplating this new adventure – one that would require me to dive back into intense training, participate in a three-week long stag do, and be away from my family on the other side of the world – but with the support of my family, I realised that opportunities like this are rare at my age.
“It is with immense pride that I announce… I have been selected to join the Lions Legends! I truly cannot wait for what lies ahead. Let the training begin!”