Monye moved by 'great honour'
Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:21
England and Lions wing Ugo Monye
British and Irish Lions wing Ugo Monye admits he was almost brought to tears last Saturday in South Africa after the tourists recorded their first test win over the Springboks in the final clash of the 2009 three match series in Johannesburg.
The home side had already wrapped up the series heading into the third match but a test victory over the Springboks still remains a hugely important accolade for any Lions team and its players.
Monye, who endured a rollercoaster of a tour, returned to the starting lineup for the final test after missing the second match in Pretoria and scored a vital 90m interception try to secure the game for Paul O'Connell’s men.
The tourist went on to a 28-9 victory, a record equaling winning margin for them over the South Africans, and the relief and enormity of the occasion made a big impact on the Harleuqins flyer.
"I almost cried when I put the ball down - to look up and see all the British and Irish Lions supporters was amazing," he told the RFU podcast.
"It's been a long tour but I have loved every minute of it. It's been a great honour to have put on and won in a Lions Test jersey."