- Mail Sport’s Nik Simon and Kev Quigley are going behind the scenes Down Under
- The pair flew in style – just like the Lions – to Perth, and even made a phone call
- An Aussie star was first of many guests in series in association with Dr Squatch
Welcomed by beautiful winter sunshine, Nik and Kev arrived in Perth, the sporting gateway to Australia.
England’s cricketers will play their opening Ashes fixture on the west coast in November, but this week it has been home to the Lions.
Here is what the guys got up to in the first episode of Roar & Uncut, in association with Dr Squatch.
Sunday
Perth Airport was a hive of activity as the Lions touched down for rugby’s greatest tour. Maro Itoje led the team through arrivals and he was followed by Henry Pollock, carrying BIL the Lions teddy.
Like the Lions, we arrived in style, travelling in Qatar Airways’ luxury Qsuites. The guys even managed to FaceTime Lions legend Dan Biggar over the airline’s Starlink wi-fi.
Monday
The Lions were welcomed to Australia with an indigenous First Nations ceremony at Kings Park.
Overlooking the spectacular Swan River, there were digeridoos, boomerangs and a ‘smoking ceremony’ where players and media inhaled burning sandalwood to connect with the local earth.
Then it was back to our spectacular hotel, the InterContinental Perth City Centre, to recover from the jetlag.
IHG are the official hotel partner of the Lions tour and they have also partnered with Roar and Uncut, with some very special digs lined up over the next few weeks!
Tuesday
We set off on a once-in-lifetime trip to the Pinnacles Desert. There was a sandboarding trip on route, flying down the spectacular dunes with limited success!
Once we reached the Pinnacles, it was time to explore the other-worldly limestone formations, before enjoying a BBQ underneath the stars.
Wednesday
Time to explore the suburbs with Western Force and Wallabies star Nic White.
He took us the leafy Subiaco suburb, where he convinced us to join him at the barbers. White is famous for his crazy moustache – and now we have one too!
Thursday
After Andy Farrell’s team announcement, we made the short journey back to our hotel in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw away from Victoria Quay and walking distance to the Optus Stadium.
We made the most of the complimentary evening drinks in the club lounge, before inviting a few friends over for dinner at the hotel’s Ascua restaurant. The chefs pulled out all the stops, cooking 15 dry-aged steaks over open flames.
Friday
With 19 beaches in easy reach of the city, it was finally time to check out the city’s postcard destination, Cottesloe Beach.
The perfect place for a sunset swim at the end of a busy week, watching the surfers glide into the weekend as we tucked into our fish and chips!
Saturday
Match day at the Optus Stadium, which is only a short walk down the river from the Intercontinental.
Our moustachioed friend Nic White scored early for the Western Force, but the Lions had too much firepower as they raced clear in the second-half.
On his way off the pitch, White had one final message: ‘Look good, feel good, play good.’
Roar & Uncut comes to you in association with Dr Squatch, ensuring Nik and Kev are the best-smelling guys on tour.
For more information on visiting Perth, go to www.westernaustralia.com.
