One star feared his days had been numbered after a dramatic Check sequence.
Andy Powell on the 2009 Lions tour. (Picture: Getty)
Former England worldwide Ugo Monye has disclosed how Andy Powell as soon as “thought he was going to die” following an evening out throughout a British and Irish Lions tour. The ex-Harlequins winger has shared the story, explaining how the back-row ahead even tried to say goodbye to his canine.
Powell and Monye had been squad mates on the 2009 Lions expedition to South Africa, the place the visiting workforce suffered a 2-1 sequence defeat to the Springboks. Regardless of falling 2-0 behind, Sir Ian McGeechan’s males triumphed within the third and ultimate Check, securing a 28-9 victory. Two scores from Shane Williams and one from Monye himself contributed to clinching the win at Ellis Park.
Quite a few Welsh gamers featured on that expedition, vastly completely different to the 2025 squad, which included simply two within the authentic choice. Talking on talkSPORT, Monye disclosed that former Cardiff star Powell landed himself in deep trouble throughout their festivities, leaving presenters Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein in stitches.
“I shared a room with a man referred to as Andy Powell,” Monye started, earlier than recounting Powell’s notorious golf buggy journey down the M4 to the presenters. “Have been you nervous about going to sleep?” enquired Goldstein. “100%,” responded Monye.
“I keep in mind on the evening of the third Check, we might simply gained and it was an excellent evening. He was simply as devoted on the pitch as he was to the social aspect. Everybody is aware of that Tremendous Sunday is best than Tremendous Saturday.
“Typically, earlier than a sport you’d have a caffeine pill to get your self revved up and motivated. He took 4 of those after the sport as a result of he needed to undergo the evening. So, he had had 4 caffeine tablets, a bucket load of Pink Bulls, after which we obtained into mattress at round three or 4.
“0.3 seconds later he sat bolt upright, as a result of shock horror, he’s having coronary heart palpitations. I can inform this story, as a result of spoiler alert, he isn’t useless. So, he wakened, having coronary heart palpitations, I am not in a match state to handle him and I am additionally not a physician. So I’ve left the room to try to discover our workforce physician who was, funnily sufficient, asleep. There was nobody round. I used to be frightened.
“I am going again into the room to not even contemplate what state he is perhaps in. He is sat on the bathroom along with his cellphone in his hand, and his screensaver of his canine. And I used to be like: ‘What are you doing?’
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“He was saying goodbye to his canine as a result of he thought he was going to die. I simply surprise what the tales you may’t inform are,” joked Goldstein, earlier than all three cracked up.
In the course of the precise match, it was Monye who touched down for a 74-metre interception strive after Wales legend Williams secured a first-half brace. Further Welsh internationals featured within the squad that day included Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips, Matthew Rees, Martyn Williams, Alun Wyn Jones and James Hook, although the latter remained on the bench all through.
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