Behind the Scenes: Saunas, Mascots and Growing Bonds at the Lions’ Algarve Base
How the British and Irish Lions Are Building Brotherhood in Portugal Before the Argentina Clash
There’s something a little surreal about watching Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham — two players more used to smashing into each other on the pitch than swapping compliments — share a warm embrace under the Portuguese sun.
“Tell them what you said about me,” grins Genge as he settles in for an interview at the Lions’ base in Quinta do Lago, a luxury training hub tucked away in the Algarve.
“I said you were the best looking, with the best chat,” Bealham fires back, drawing a chuckle from his fellow prop before the pair hug it out.
Just three days into the British and Irish Lions’ pre-tour camp, and the walls are already coming down. The usual club rivalries, international tensions and on-field baggage are slowly being shelved in favour of a new kind of camaraderie — forged through sweat, shared goals, and, apparently, a daily 11-minute sauna session.
From Rivals to Roommates: The Power of Rugby Brotherhood
“It was weird when we first turned up,” Genge admits on BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “I’ve said some really horrible things to a few of them over the years, trying to knock lumps out of them in games. But now we’re getting on like a house on fire.”
That, in many ways, is the unique magic of the Lions — a team that isn’t really a team until it has to be. Players who’ve traded tackles and tried to outwit each other on the Test stage must now blend styles, share knowledge, and learn to trust one another in a matter of weeks.
While the Lions won’t face their first tour opponent until 28 June in Perth, when they take on the Western Force, the hard work is already underway. Their immediate focus is the warm-up match in Dublin against Argentina on 20 June. A tough test made all the trickier by the fact that 15 squad members from Leinster, Bath, and Leicester are still tied up with domestic finals this weekend.
Mascots, Saunas and Ice-Breakers
For now, bonding is the top priority — and there’s plenty of it happening around camp.
England flanker Henry Pollock, the youngest in the squad, has been tasked with babysitting the team mascot, a cuddly lion dubbed BiL. It’s an age-old Lions tradition, and one Pollock is taking very seriously — the plush toy is rarely seen out of his grip.
Elsewhere, Scotland centre Huw Jones is being put through his paces by the medical team as he looks to overcome an Achilles niggle, while Ireland’s Bundee Aki is laughing it up with Jamie George and Elliot Daly, rekindling memories of the 2021 tour to South Africa.
Marcus Smith pops over for a natter, the topic quickly turning to Danny Care and his post-rugby life. Meanwhile, head coach Johnny Sexton and performance guru David Nucifora sneak in a workout of their own in the open-air gym, right after the players wrap up their session.
And then there’s Genge, fresh from his precise daily sauna routine — “11 minutes, five days a week,” he says with a wink.
No Time to Waste: Building Cohesion on the Clock
Despite the laid-back tone, there’s urgency simmering under the surface. This is no holiday. The Lions have less than two weeks to prepare for their first international clash and are still missing a third of their squad.
“Nothing is ever perfect on a Lions tour,” says assistant coach John Dalziel. “You’ve got the schedule, the travel, the injuries — it’s chaos. But that’s what we wanted. We need to be adaptable. That’s the essence of the Lions.”
Farrell and his team are already having to make adjustments. With Zander Fagerson ruled out through injury, Finlay Bealham was called up. Jamie George and the promising Asher Opoku-Fordjour were also added to help boost training numbers.
Dalziel confirms that some players may have just six days between domestic finals and a potential appearance against the Pumas.
“If we can’t turn players around in seven days, we definitely can’t do it in three. The Lions will play three games in a week. That’s the level of intensity we’re heading into.”
Learning Fast and Living the Legacy
For Wales’ Jac Morgan, one of only two Welshmen on this tour, it’s a chance to soak it all in and leave a mark.
“There’s loads to learn,” Morgan says. “The little details, the way the other back-row lads train, their habits. I’m really looking forward to getting the best out of each other.”
But Morgan’s motivation goes beyond self-improvement — it’s about upholding tradition.
“There’ve been so many Welsh legends who’ve worn this jersey. I just want to make everyone back home proud.”
From Quinta do Lago to Down Under
After wrapping up their training in Portugal, the Lions will head to Dublin to face Argentina. From there, it’s straight on a long-haul flight to Australia for the main event.
The tour kicks off with a match against Western Force in Perth, followed by a rapid-fire schedule across the country — a genuine test of body and mind.
But if the opening days in the Algarve are anything to go by, the Lions are up for the challenge. They’re laughing together, lifting together, and learning what it means to play not just for themselves, but for each other.
And who knows — maybe it’s the sauna. Maybe it’s the cuddly toy. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the timeless power of rugby to turn rivals into teammates, and teammates into brothers.
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