A member of the British and Irish Lions’ backroom staff was left red-faced during the 2021 tour of South Africa when historic social media comments criticising head coach Warren Gatland were unexpectedly resurfaced in front of colleagues. This revealing moment occurred during what was meant to be a light-hearted quiz night, providing an unexpected twist to team bonding activities.
The incident in question occurred shortly after the Lions had secured a narrow and hard-fought 22-17 win in their opening Test against the Springboks. Spirits were understandably high among players and staff as they gathered in their Cape Town base. Organised by strength and conditioning coach Huw Bennett, the quiz was intended to inject some levity into proceedings. However, it soon became a memorable occasion for one staffer for all the wrong reasons.
During the quiz, an old tweet from a member of the coaching team surfaced. The post, made some eight or nine years prior, contained bluntly worded criticism of Gatland, clearly written long before their professional paths would cross on rugby’s biggest stage. The revelation stunned the room and, according to Gatland, left the individual “mortified” as their previous comments were aired in public.
Gatland, no stranger to rugby’s pressures and politics with three Lions tours under his belt, responded to the awkward discovery with characteristic humour. Reflecting on the event, he joked that he announced, “Whoever made that tweet is on the effing plane tomorrow so pack your bag!” Although the threat was tongue-in-cheek, it did little to ease the embarrassment of the staff member concerned, who reportedly remained red-faced for the remainder of the evening.
The episode serves as a timely reminder of the digital footprints left behind in the age of social media, particularly for professionals who may one day work alongside – or even under – those they once critiqued online. So far, the identity of the individual remains undisclosed, perhaps sparing them further discomfort, but the story has found an audience across the rugby world and beyond.
Despite this potentially sticky moment, Gatland spoke warmly about the togetherness of his squad and staff during the high-pressure tour. “The players have been unbelievable, and the staff as well,” he commented in the aftermath of the quiz. Such camaraderie would prove vital in the face of the Springboks, who would ultimately rally to claim the series victory by winning the two subsequent Tests. For the Lions, the defeat was a bitter pill, particularly after the promising start.
Fast forward to the present day and former assistant Andy Farrell, now heading up the Lions, will no doubt be wary of similar pitfalls as he leads his own staff through another challenging tour. While Farrell has largely appointed colleagues familiar from the Ireland set-up, the lesson from 2021 rings clear: past opinions, readily available online, can quickly catch up with any member of a tightly knit team.
Intriguingly, Farrell himself has already faced scrutiny for selections involving family within the squad, another reminder of the layers of complexity inherent in assembling an elite international touring party. Meanwhile, Owen Farrell, the coach’s son, is set to be rested in the upcoming fixture, as the Lions prepare for the decisive test against Australia – a match that could secure them the series.
In elite sport, off-field relationships remain as significant as on-field tactics. The 2021 social media mishap is a modern cautionary tale—both for athletes and support staff—emphasising the enduring impact of words shared in public forums. As rugby’s biggest names continue to navigate both high performance and high visibility, the importance of digital etiquette has never been clearer.
Ultimately, while the viral quiz night anecdote may elicit laughs in hindsight, it also underscores the evolving challenges facing professional teams as they balance team unity with the digital realities of the modern age. The Lions, ever a blend of national loyalties and individual stories, continue to write new chapters both on and off the pitch.