We bring you some reaction from the special ceremony at Rugby School in England, where nine legends were inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame to celebrate the rich history of British & Irish Lions tours to South Africa.
Willie John McBride, Ireland and the Lions
Audio: Willie John McBride >>
On the importance of the British & Irish Lions:
"What other sport brings four countries together to go and play in the southern hemisphere? Why would we ever destroy it? Go to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and ask them what they think of the Lions. That's a special occasion when the Lions turn out."
On being inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame with the likes of Syd Millar and Ian McGeechan:
"To be amongst those names is special. It's something that I dream about and will always treasure."
Dr Syd Millar, Ireland and the LionsAudio: Syd Millar >>
On how the British & Irish Lions 'Invincibles', whom he coached, triumphed in South Africa in 1974:
"The art of good coaching is to reduce complexities to simplicities. So we played a very simple game. We gave it to the backs with some very simple back row moves, but we worked very, very hard to secure the ball and we gave it to our backs.
"Other Lions tours have done very well with 40 percent of the ball. We probably had 60 percent. That was one of the secrets.
"The other thing was that we had a lot of leaders. Willie John McBride was a great captain. But we also had Fran Cotton, Ian McLauchlan, both captained their countries. Fergus Slattery, Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and Phil Bennett. So we had a lot of leaders on the field, who could identify what needed to be done and that was invaluable as well."
Oregan Hoskins, South Africa Rugby Union PresidentAudio: Oregan Hoskins >>
On the positive effect the British & Irish Lions 2009 tour of South Africa has had off the pitch, as well as on it:
"We are going through a society that has undergone enormous economic and political changes and rugby plays its part.
"I was able to witness at first hand the impact that the British & Irish Lions had on the tourists and spectators. There were almost 50,000 who came to our country. Thousands of them went into the townships to impact on the lives of the youngsters there and to make a change in terms of providing well-needed money for capital projects to build facilities, to provide kit and all sorts of help.
"That to me is extremely important and it also shows that there is another face to Rugby - that Rugby is not just a game, but that it impacts on society. In South Africa's case, maybe more than any other society, that is extremely important at the moment."
Ian McGeechan, Scotland and the LionsAudio: Ian McGeechan >>
On the 1974 Lions, his first tour
"It was a fantastic experience, a three and a half month adventure. We were taken around all of South Africa, the rugby you could see was a part of all the communities and for me it was a huge eye-opener to be part of a country where rugby was number one. It had a lasting impact on me forever after."
On twice returning as coach
"I think as a player you live the moment more, the real excitement of the wins. As a coach you get more safisfaction out of the build-up, the preparation, then the game and after-match, so I think the satisfaction is deeperwhen you get it right, but some things don't change - the South Africans' commitment and the support for it as a country, and that's what makes it so special from a Lion's point of view, because you know how important the Lions are for them too."
On any future involvement
"Whenever there's a Lions tour going on, wherever, from now until I'm no longer on this earth, I will always be thinking there's something missing. It is special."
Cliff Morgan, Wales and the Lions
On being inducted into the Hall of Fame and his memories of the 1955 tour
"I am, indeed, extremely honoured to be inducted into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame and feel more than a little overwhelmed to have my name standing alongside such distinguished inductees from the past and the present.
"I have to confess, however, that there is a part of me that feels a bit of a fraud at being given such an honour simply because I had the enormous good fortune to be part of the Lions Tour in 1955.
"You see, for me, that Tour gave me one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was four months of joy and my memories of that tour are still so vivid - the warm welcome in that beautiful country of South Africa, the sights and sounds so different from the valleys of Wales and, of course the rugby - with two well matched teams who played hard to win in grounds that were full to overflowing.
"However, above all I cherish the friendships that I made on that Tour - they are very special to me. We have enjoyed several reunions recently and when we meet we are young again as we relive those glorious days."
