Lions stars holding 'secret meetings' on tour as one player lifts lid

Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman revealed past deeds of Tartan-clad front rowers have been inspiring him on the current Lions tour. Schoeman, born in South Africa, is being driven on by the exploits of the late Tom Smith, a hero in 1997 and 2001, and 'Mighty Mouse Ian McLauchlan, a legend of 1971 and 1974, who passed away recently, at 83.

The loosehead said: "Tom Smith is close to my heart because he has played for Scotland as well and I have sat on the same seat as him at Murrayfield which I have been honoured and blessed by.

"We have to deliver physically and mentally and create the same aura of a Lions player.

"We have focussed on the history and legacy of the Lions - delivering in those key moments. That's what the jersey demands of us as loosehead props, like Mighty Mouse."

The props in Australia have formed a secret society which meets up daily and excludes all other players - including front brethren, hookers.

Schoeman added: "We are like bison, migrating together. We have a secret meeting every night. We stick together and have a tea after every training session, and we get to meet each other's families and ask deep questions. But it is just for props in our group in whatever hotel we are.

"Looseheads all around the world are very similar - quite weird people. We always say that playing rugby you must have a screw loose but playing rugby as a loosehead prop is something else, we like going to dark places, physically, mentally, spiritually."