Mark Robinson, the chief of New Zealand Rugby, has fired back sharply at Stephen Jones, who suggested the British and Irish Lions should reconsider their 2029 tour to New Zealand. Following a lackluster series against Australia, the rugby columnist proposed an alternative route that would see the Lions skip their traditional New Zealand visit in favor of other nations.
Jones stirred controversy by arguing in his column for the Sunday Times,
"Why do they have to plod wearily along the same routes? The Lions have been a charitable institution for way too long. They should not go to New Zealand in 2029, or, at least, they should debate the issue first."
He even suggested that France might be a suitable host before New Zealand gets another turn.Speaking on Newstalk ZB, Robinson quipped about Jones' unfamiliarity with recent developments, before delving into details about ongoing preparations for the Lions' visit. "Well, Stephen wouldn’t be aware of this, but we had a fantastic meeting in Sydney last week with the Lions in the build-up to the last Test. We’re hugely excited about where things sit there," Robinson explained, highlighting the discussions around the potential schedule and the adoption of a joint venture model used in recent tours.
The NZR CEO also revealed exciting progress on the inaugural Women’s Lions Tour slated for 2027, indicating a significant expansion of the Lions rugby legacy. "We’re getting closer to announcing what the format and nature of the Women’s Lions Tour will be. And that’s going to be super exciting as well."
Despite his generally reserved demeanor, Robinson allowed himself a moment of candor regarding Jones' commentary, concluding with a sharp retort.