As The Wallabies ponder their loss to Scotland overnight, The Blaze Agency looks ahead to 2013, for the highly anticpated British Lions tour of Australia.

One of the most iconic sporting teams in the world, the Lions are drawn from the best players in England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland and tour Australia just once every 12 years.

Never playing at home, and only assembled for overseas visits, the Lions travel to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa on a rotational basis every four years and take with them a passionate supporter base numbering in its tens of thousands.

“That tour was unforgettable and the Wallabies won it by two Tests to one.

“We expect the 2013 Tour to be even bigger and better.”

The Lions will play all five Australian Super Rugby clubs – the Force, Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies and Rebels – along with a combined NSW-Queensland Country team and three Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

“It is a series that is already highly anticipated,” said Lions Tour manager and former Scottish and Lions Test fullback Andy Irvine, who is currently in Australia as part of preparations for the 2013 visit.

“Our plan is to ensure we are completely prepared for the tour and that we put in place an environment that will mean the Lions have every opportunity to be successful next year.

“It is just fantastic that the Lions concept has stood the test of time, taken on and embraced the professional era and emerged stronger and more popular than ever.

“The level of support the Lions enjoy from their supporters is unprecedented and the Lions are probably the best supported team in world Rugby.

“It is a unique concept in world sport and one hell of a challenge, one that sees a combined team playing against some of the strongest teams in the world every four years on a tour away from home.

“Yet the players cherish the opportunity and those selected consider it the ultimate accolade in their playing career.

“The Lions are a very proud team with a unique ethos and a wonderful history, and the famous red shirt is synonymous with such a challenge and in 2013 that challenge is Australia and the Wallabies, one of the best teams in world Rugby.

“But it is a challenge that the players relish and one they will look forward to.”

Details regarding the timelines for when tickets go on sale for the Tests and tour matches will be announced in coming weeks.

“There’s no doubt the demand for Test match tickets will be enormous in the first instance, and we have every confidence the supporters of our Super Rugby clubs will also be keen to see their teams take on the Lions,” said Mr O’Neill.

“We will have more than 30,000 British and Irish fans in the country during the series as well, so I would urge Super Rugby and Qantas Wallabies fans to grab their tickets as soon as they can.

“This will be a sporting event you don’t want to miss. The Lions come here just once every 12 years. They embark on a full-scale tour. They bring a massive army of fans with them. And in 2013 it all starts in Perth.”