When the British and Irish Lions only visit Brisbane once every 12 years, it’s best to have a road map of hotspots and the ad-libbed rugby flavours of a festival week.
Much is being made of Saturday night being the summit of the biggest rugby stretch in Brisbane since the Wallabies and Lions met on the 2013 tour.
Make that the biggest since the 2003 Rugby World Cup. More than 180,000 fans lapped up four huge games, involving seven nations, over nine days.
Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium and all the events around the Caxton Street precinct, the Lions Series Fan Zone at King George Square and other rugby hubs is massive on every level.
It’s not just about the 80 minutes on the field. So much else is going on and there are so many ways to enjoy before, during and after.
One rugby tragic recalled just this week being in a pub outside the Gabba and packing down in a bar scrum at 10pm after the Lions Test there in 2001.
There were Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Aussie accents in that laughing, heaving, unco-ordinated scrum. There were English onlookers above the occasion.
That night, “Crouch and hold, engage” was a scrum sequence that meant putting a full beer to your lips at “engage.”
Across town, another cluster of Irish fans were singing “Waltzing O’Driscoll” to celebrate hero Brian O’Driscoll scoring his classy, gliding try from halfway.
The message is clear. Wallabies fans have to be in full voice on Saturday night to counter those in red jerseys. It will start well before kick-off for many.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive Phil Waugh estimates more than 40,000 touring Lions supporters will join forces with the gold army over the next few weeks.
State Tourism Minister Andrew Powell put it well: "It doesn't get much bigger than the British and Irish Lions coming to town.
"It doesn't just mean full stadiums. It means full hotels, full restaurants, full bars, full cafes."
Brisbane's rugby clubs have watch parties on. There are functions galore this week.
Here's a rapid rundown on what's on.
Wednesday - Friday, July 16-18 – Lions Series Fan Zone
King George Square will host three fun-filled days in the lead up to the first Test. Classics and Players from the Wallabies and Lions will conduct Q&As and autograph-signing sessions.
Warning for pale-faced Brits: With the sun out, the obligatory face painting always leaves a sunburnt tattoo after the paint fades.
The Pig ‘N’ Whistle is a Brit pub on the Square.
When: From midday, Wednesday - Friday
Where: King George Square
Thursday, July 17 – Official Lions Luncheon
Yarns and insights from Australian rugby luminaries Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill plus Lions legends Alun Wyn Jones and Jamie Roberts.
When: From noon, Thursday, July 17
Where: Palladium at the Star, Brisbane
Thursday, July 17– Rugby Heaven Live
Your Stan Sport rugby crew Tim Horan, Morgan Turinui and Sean Maloney. Ticket giveaway.
When: From 12:30pm, Thursday, July 17
Where: Regatta Hotel, Toowong
Thursday, July 17 – The Good, The Bad & The Rugby – Live Show
Rugby chat and fun with James Haskell, Mike Tindall and Alex Payne.
When: 5pm, Thursday, July 17
Where: Harvey Norman Macgregor, 588 Kessels Rd
Friday, July 18 – UQ Rugby Annual Test Lunch
Guest speakers James Horwill, Jamie Roberts, Greg Martin, Tom Court and MC Tim Horan.
When: Noon-4pm, Friday, July 18
Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Friday, July 18 – Brothers Annual Test Luncheon – Lions Edition
Speakers Will Greenwood, Matt Burke and MC Jason McCall with top-tier guest appearances.
When: From noon, Friday, July 18
Where: Sofitel Brisbane Central
Friday, July 18 – Matt Hampson Foundation Rugby Dinner
A worthy night to raise funds to support young people seriously injured through sport. Tickets still available.
The Tour de Roar beer is available thanks to the funny guys from the International Rugby Memes Club.
Guest speakers Pat Howard, Mike Tindall, Lee Mears and Fletcher Dyson.
When: From 6:30pm, Friday, July 18
Where: Tattersall’s Club, CBD
Saturday, July 19 – Wests Long Lunch
Game day prep. Guest speakers Justin Harrison, Alan Quinlan, Les Kiss and MC “Banger” Bancroft.
When: From 12:30-3:30pm, Saturday, July 19
Where: Wests Bulldogs Rugby Club, Toowong
Saturday, July 19 – Lions Den
A Lions pre-match party for traveling fans in the heart of Brisbane.
High-energy match day entertainment featuring celebrities, rugby legends, live music, food and drink.
When: From 2pm Saturday, July 19
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Saturday, July 19 – Live & Loud at the Jubilee Hotel
Micro brewery, bistro and giant screen at the rugby pub.
When: From kick-off, Saturday, July 19
Where: Jubilee Hotel, 470 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley
Saturday, July 19 – Last Man Standing Brewery
Roars and pours at pub across the road from the stadium. Hosts are Stephen and Damian Prosser, sons of Wallabies legend Roy Prosser. Their Last Man Standing brew is named after Winter Olympics gold medallist Stephen Bradbury not a Lions fan from Chiswick.
When: Noon-late, Saturday, July 19
Where: Last Man Standing Brewery, Castlemaine Street, Milton
Saturday, July 19 – Normanby Hotel
Free car park party with big screen, pop up bars and food trucks. There's a secret All Blacks jersey framed at this hotel.
When: Pre-game onwards, Saturday, July 19
Where: Normanby Hotel, Red Hill
Saturday, July 19 – University of Queensland Rugby Club
Big screen and bar at Michael Lynagh’s former club.
When: From kick-off, Saturday, July 19
Where: UQ Rugby Club, Sir William MacGregor Driver, St Lucia
Saturday, July 19 – Easts Rugby Club – Lions Under the Stars
Big 8m screen in grandstand for viewing from on-field. Room for 1000 people. Food trucks. Families, kids and non-members welcome. Former Lion Darren Morris played at the club.
When: From 5:30pm, Saturday, July 19
Where: Easts Rugby Club, Halifax Street, Norman Park
Saturday, July 19 – Wallabies v British & Irish Lions
Game time. There may still be a ticket. Check online.
When: 7.45pm Saturday, July 19
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sunday, July 20 - Darts Downunder
Plenty of fun here with Aussie legend Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock headlining a darts showdown between celebrities from Australia and the UK.
Fellow darts professionals David Platt, Peter Machin and Aaron Morrison are also on board plus willing amateurs like Matt Giteau, Justin Harrison, Simon Shaw and Drew Mitchell who might need a barn door as a board.
When: From 1.30pm Sunday, July 20
Where: Fortitude Music Hall, Fortitude Valley
