**Lions Prop’s Sleepwalking Antics Leave Team-Mate Unfazed During Tour Preparations**
In the typically intense atmosphere of the British & Irish Lions training camp, one player’s nocturnal activities have introduced an unexpected note of levity. England and Bath prop Will Stuart, fresh from Premiership glory, has already made a unique impression – not on the field, but within the team hotel. Just days into his time with the touring side, Stuart’s long-standing sleepwalking habit has resurfaced, surprising his room-mate but so far avoiding disruption to team preparations.
Stuart, who only joined Andy Farrell’s Lions squad at the start of last week, was paired up with Ireland’s tighthead prop Finlay Bealham for the duration of the tour. While such rooming arrangements are designed to strengthen bonds among players from different nations, Stuart’s sleep disorder added an unexpected challenge to the usual dynamic.
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is a relatively rare condition in adulthood – with approximately one per cent of adults experiencing it regularly, despite affecting some seven per cent at least once in their lives. For Stuart, unfortunately, these nighttime wanderings are more than a passing childhood phase. He admits to the odd incident on rugby tours before, but this latest episode gave Bealham a taste of what to expect.
Speaking candidly to the press, Stuart explained how the situation unfolded. “I’ve been rooming with Finlay Bealham, he’s a funny guy,” he said, grateful for Bealham’s good humour about the surprise awakening. “He’s had to put up with me sleepwalking already, which he dealt with pretty well.” On the specific incident, Stuart recalled: “He was in the bed next to the window and I’d got up and crept behind his bed and woke up behind the curtain next to the window. I opened the curtain and he was just there. I’m surprised he didn’t wake up and get the fright of his life!”
Past experiences have made Stuart cautious – sometimes for his own dignity. The 28-year-old tighthead noted he has previously found himself locked out of his hotel room during sleepwalking episodes, often not fully dressed. “The worst it’s got in camp has been locking myself out of hotel rooms and getting halfway to the lobby,” he revealed. “Hopefully that doesn’t happen on this trip. I might just wear a few more layers in bed because I’ve been caught out a couple of times!”
Such stories bring a lighter element to the Lions’ famously demanding tours, offering a glimpse at the camaraderie and ordinary foibles that accompany the top-tier rugby players off the pitch. While fans are used to the extraordinary athleticism and discipline associated with the Lions, it is these idiosyncratic moments that often cement friendships and memories beyond the rugby itself.
Stuart’s arrival in camp comes off the back of a remarkable season for Bath, who recently ended a near thirty-year wait to be crowned Premiership champions. The celebrations, as Stuart dryly noted, were “quite intense”, with both he and club-mate Finn Russell admitting to feeling the effects as they joined up with Farrell’s team. “I think we did enough in two days to warrant a season celebration and the day after we were a bit ropey coming in, but I managed to dust off the cobwebs quite quickly,” he said. Stuart humorously admitted lacking the ‘staying power’ of some team-mates, preferring instead to switch focus to the Lions campaign.
Despite the gentle ribbing and occasional nocturnal misadventure, Stuart’s commitment and positive attitude have already set a tone for the new squad. These early weeks of the tour are crucial not simply for honing tactics, but for fostering unity among individuals from four different rugby nations. As Stuart’s room-mate, Bealham seems to have accepted both the restless nights and the shared opportunity.
The British & Irish Lions remain one of rugby’s most storied and pressure-filled collectives. Yet stories like Stuart’s serve to humanise the players, reminding supporters that, underneath the physical prowess and tactical acumen, these athletes navigate the same daily oddities as everyone else.
As the Lions continue their preparations, both management and players will be hoping Stuart manages a restful – and stationary – night’s sleep. For now, at least, his sleepwalking antics have remained amusing rather than disruptive, helping to break the ice as the squad chases rugby greatness.