For those lucky enough to remember, the 2000s were a strange time in the crossover between international rugby stardom and the world of fashion. From rugby gloves and highlights to mahogany brown fake tan, it was a weird time in the elite levels of rugby.
While some fashion trends are best forgotten, with Donncha O'Callaghan telling stories it'll be a long time before the stars of the 2009 Lions Tour to South Africa live down their tan-wearing days.
It was a golden age of Irish rugby, with 15 of the squad hailing from these shores. Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan and Tommy Bowe were just some of the iconic names who got a seat on the plane to take on the Springboks.
While there is little doubt that each and every one of them was more than worthy of sporting the red jersey, the celebrity status adorned on Ireland's young stars led to some absolutely wild fashion decisions.
None of which were as prolific as the spray tan phenomenon, which like all dangers rapidly spread across the Irish Sea after the Irish team joined up with their Welsh teammates who were famous for it in the 2000s.
13 June 2009; James Hook, British and Irish Lions, converts a penalty three minutes from time, which earned his side victory over Western Province. Western Province v British and Irish Lions, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa. Picture credit: Seconds Left / SPORTSFILE *** Local Caption ***
Donncha O'Callaghan recalls Lions spray tan phenomenon
Chatting on their new podcast The Offload, the always-tanned Donncha O'Callaghan and Tommy Bowe discussed the tan phenomena that swept through rugby on the 2009 Lions Tour.
Recalling the days when Gavin Henson and James Hook were notorious for donning the fake tan, O'Callaghan recalled how Henson used to carry his own fake tan wipes in the case of mishaps, while Hook had a sign-up board for spray tans going in their team room.
I'll never forget that Lions Tour in 2009, so normally in the team room there's like a whiteboard for activities, so you might put down 'thinking of going to the cinema at nine o'clock' or 'playing monopoly at four o'clock throw your name on the board'. I think it was James Hook came in and put down spray tans tonight boys, seven o'clock, Sandra is going to spray lads down'
I was there, 'fair play to Hooky he's gas', but straight away all the boys started coming in, Andy Powell came in and went 'Awww spray tans tonight boys!!!' He was thrilled throwing his name up on the board.
I remember throwing Paulie's name up on the board just purely for the craic, thinking how will this turn out.
(Gavin Henson) used to have the wipes, on that Lions Tour he'd a bag with wipes in it that would tan in case he lost a bit off his face.
While Donncha O'Callaghan might have had little issue exposing his former Lions teammates for their enthusiasm, Tommy Bowe wasn't letting the former Munster star get away with it all, joking that O'Callaghan's reaction to the board going up might not have been as muted as he let on, and more than likely went like this:
'Book me in, Book me in' That's what you said.
Whether their endeavours in the beauty salons of South Africa had any impact on the rugby played we'll never know. Despite winning all of their provincial games, the Lions would lose their opening two test matches against the Springboks, claiming nothing more than a conciliatory final test win.
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