To celebrate the partnership between Doom Bar and the British & Irish Lions, Sharp’s Brewery has announced a free Lions-inspired rugby event at Camborne RFC on Saturday, July 1.
Made up from the Home Nations, with the help of former England captain and Lions player, Phil Vickery, Doom Bar has crafted a Lions inspired team to take on a Kiwi team, representing the All Blacks in this special match, all on Doom Bar’s home turf of Cornwall.
This special match at Camborne RFC was inspired by a historic game that took place on the very same ground in 1924 when the All Blacks took on Cornwall as part of their tour, after which they became known as ‘The Invincibles.’
Some 19,000 people gathered there to watch Cornwall — including seven players from the Camborne club — take on the All Blacks.
To recreate this, and give Cornish rugby fans the opportunity to indulge their passionate support for the British & Irish Lions squad, the Doom Bar Select XV team will take on the New Zealand Select XV team, with gates opening from 11am. Rugby fans are invited to bring friends and family along with them and a pint of complimentary Doom Bar will be waiting for every attendee over 18 (ID required).
James Nicholls, senior brand manager at Sharp’s Brewery, said: “We believe the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand represents the iconic and inspirational pinnacle of the rugby game, so having Doom Bar as the official beer in the UK marks a proud moment for all of us in the brewery.
“The association of Doom Bar with the Lions is a great fit, based on our values of dedication, commitment, precision and teamwork, all of which are required on the field and in the brewhouse.”
Proud history
He added: “Doom Bar has always had a strong association with rugby and we are especially proud of our history of supporting numerous local clubs in Cornwall. But we couldn’t let the Lions tour happen without finding a way to create this fervour at home here in Cornwall.
“We’re all very much looking forward to seeing the Doom Bar team take on New Zealand at Camborne and to raising a pint of Doom Bar and a Cornish pasty to those tough players on the pitch. It’s been great working with the team in Camborne RFC and we would like to say a big thanks for helping make this all happen.”
Phil Vickery, who often played at Camborne RFC himself in his Cornish club days, recently revisited the ground in preparation for the Doom Bar match. He said: “We’re here, where so much history exists with New Zealand rugby. And with the British & Irish Lions tour happening on the other side of the world, it feels right that we honour that relationship with a match of our own.
“Much as the Lions tour is all about pitching the best-of- the best out there against one another, the rugby that is played week-on-week in grounds like Camborne RFC is just as vital, and just as inspirational, to all of those who make this sport our lives. Good luck to everyone on the day. Play ’til the last drop and make the crowd proud!”
Everyone is invited to the open match and all people need to do is go to visit Eventbrite online or follow the Sharp’s Brewery social channels for links to the sign-up page. Rugby fans, friends and family simply need to register for the event by Monday, June 26, and they will be granted free access to the ground and the match.
