British & Irish Lions Documentary Announced

Stamp Productions has been commissioned to produce a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary of the 2017 British and Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand.

Taking place this summer, the team at Stamp Productions will travel with the 41-man playing squad and be immersed in the team culture, gaining exclusive behind-the-scene footage of the tour. With unprecedented access to the players and management team, the documentary will explore the inner dynamics, emotional rollercoaster and camaraderie among the touring squad as they undertake one of the biggest challenges in rugby – a 10-match tour culminating in a three match test series against the 2011 and 2015 World Cup winning New Zealand.

The 2017 tour to New Zealand represents the third time independent production company Stamp has been commissioned to produce the post-tour documentary for the British & Irish Lions, including 'Lions Raw' which recorded the triumphant events of the victorious 2013 tour to Australia. In its wider role, Stamp will also produce all the digital content for the team's social media channels, to connect the fans with the squad throughout the duration of the tour and to keep loyal fans and rugby fanatics up-to-date with latest news and developments surrounding the camp, with daily digital content filmed in HD and edited on location. The content will be published on a daily basis across the British & Irish Lions' digital and social media channels, including YouTube, and within the official British & Irish Lions App.

Ben Uttley, Managing Director of Stamp Productions, said: "Rugby has been in this company's DNA since the very start, and we're honoured to be entrusted to tell the story of this world famous squad as the tour unfolds. Each British & Irish Lions tour presents its own challenges, opportunities and heartache for players, and our job is to record the story as the players and management team shape it. When you're filming all access documentaries it's important to know where the line is, and balancing getting that perfect shot and interfering with the action. We're excited to once again gain intimate access to the squad and use our storytelling expertise to help document the next chapter in the Lions' captivating history."

Charlie McEwen, Chief Operating Officer, The British & Irish Lions, said: "Capturing the drama and emotion of life as a Lion requires incredible trust and understanding of what the entire squad is going through on tour. Stamp have earned, and continue to earn this trust, by intelligent and captivating storytelling that walks the 'all access' line but never crosses it."

Gus Williamson, Head of Rugby, Sky Sports, said: "All sports fans love being taken behind the ropes, and we are already looking forward to showing Sky Sports viewers the inside story of the 2017 Lions Tour. To go behind the scenes and re-live the drama, pride and passion through the eyes of the players themselves is precisely the sort of compelling content our customers love."

The documentary is expected to air on Sky Sports in late autumn 2017, with a DVD including bonus, previously unseen footage, scheduled for later release.

www.stamp-productions.com

(JP)