‘Best moment’ – Ugo Monye posts heartwarming letter that made Lions tour dream come true

Ugo Monye lived every fan’s dream when he was selected to be a British and Irish Lion. 

In 2009, the former back earned a spot in the Lions squad for their tour of South Africa and in a social media post called it the best moment of his life when told he would get to wear the famous red shirt.

IG: @ugomonye

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As the current crop of British and Irish players wait to see if they make the elite tour squad, which is picked every four years, Monye shared what those successful players will expect in the post.

The letter, signed by head coach Ian McGeechan, clearly meant a lot as Monye has still got it stored away as a treasured memory.

“We are delighted to be able to invite you to join us to represent the British and Irish Lions on the forthcoming tour to South Africa,” it began.

“The process of selecting the squad has been a resting one with competition for places pricing to be tough. It has been a delicate task throughout. 

“It is testimony to your talent, character and overall ability as a team player that you should have succeeded in making the final squad. 

“Many congratulations.

“We trust you will enjoy and value the many opportunities on offer as part of this unique and remarkable team. 

“We look forward, all of us, to fulfilling the many ambitions that lie ahead and to ensure that the 2009 Lions tour will prove to be a successful and memorable time. 

“Once again, congratulations.”

In 2009, the Lions headed to South Africa for the first time since 1997 when Martin Johnson captained them to a series win at Ellis Park. 

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This Springboks side was filled with 2007 World Cup winners such as Bryan Habana, John Smit and Victor Matfield. 

Monye was the top scorer with four tries in the regional games before being selected to start on the wing in the first Test in Durban.

The Lions, though, lost and Monye was dropped for the second Test, which resulted in a second defeat in one of the most physical games of all time with a late penalty breaking Lions hearts. 

The third and final Test in Johannesburg saw the Lions playing for the pride of the badge, and they went on to win 28-9. 

Monye scored one of the most memorable tries in Lion’s history, running almost 70 yards of the pitch to score under the posts.

However, it’s not the iconic try he remembers fondly. “I’d say it was the huddle that we had on the pitch after the third Test,” he told the Lions website.

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“It just represented so many different things. To finish the Tour on the right note was so important for us as a group of players, for what the Lions was and actually for the supporters, not just the travelling ones but everyone back home as well.

“To be in that huddle and looking around, I remember looking up and seeing Jamie Roberts – who was man of the series – he had tears in his eyes. He deserved to play in that game but that second Test was so brutal and I think we lost a third of our starting Test team in that second Test alone, so seeing him balling his eyes out was unbelievable.”

For Monye the moment encapsulated exactly what a Lions tour means. “It stands for all the things we would like to see more in our society: togetherness, putting personal agendas to one side.”

Although this was his only Lions tour, Monye went on to play 14 games for England and 241 appearances for Harlequins before he retired in March 2015. 

Now, with Andy Farrell announcing the squad for the Australia tour on 8 May, they’ll be many more players hoping to find themselves in the same position as Monye with a seat on the plane. 

talkSPORT will be with the the team all the way as the audio broadcast partner of the Lions, beginning on 20 June with a warm up in Ireland and finishing on 2 August with the third Test in Sydney.