Lions selection an amazing moment

Pierre Schoeman shed tears when realising his four-year dream to be selected for the British & Irish Lions.

The Scotland, Edinburgh and former Bulls loosehead prop was on Thursday one of two South Africans named in the 38-man squad for the tour of Australia, along with winger Duhan van der Merwe.

Schoeman, who has earned 42 Test caps since his debut in 2022, watched the squad announcement at home with his wife Charissa before heading to Murrayfield to speak to the media.

“It’s an amazing moment,” he told them. “For me personally, it is my faith that has carried me through the whole time. Faith and a great wife. I always say that my name, Pierre, in French means rock – my wife is my rock, as well as god, and it was a dream that we believed in. So, we believed and we prayed and we hoped, and we worked every day. And if you have hope then you can inspire action and make it happen.

“I was bracing for the moment, but it was exceptional and we shared some tears. No one preps you for that moment. All the sacrifice, then you get that reward – but this is not the final destination, I have a long road to climb. The hard work only starts now. You want to play in as many games and Tests as you can, and represent yourself well on and off the pitch.”

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Schoeman said watching Van der Merwe and fellow Scotland prop Rory Sutherland, a good friend of his, play for the Lions in South Africa in 2021 had motivated him to reach the same heights.

“I just thought ‘go for Scotland but surely this has to be a dream’. If you don’t have a dream then I don’t think you will give your best every day to get better and just to add any value you can in abundance.

“Even as a young lad and lassie playing sport, in rugby this is the pinnacle of the dream you can achieve in the UK – not as a team winning trophies but personally pushing up, up and up to reach the highest level you can get to. We know the sacrifices and its much better with the reward.”

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