2010 world champion Mick Hill believes the Aussie aces haven’t always
 shown their best form.
 He’s visited the country twice in the last year and says: “I’ve seen how 
dangerous their guys can be. They are far better players than they have showed over here. They’ve got people who should be appearing at the back end of the world championship on a regular basis. But credit to them for coming over to England each year. They deserve our respect.”

For three English amateur players, there’s an opportunity to be part of
 the squad and win an all-expenses paid trip as part of an eight-strong party, including a yet-to-be-named player-manager.

Malta’s Clayton Attard, the reigning European champion, has been invited as a guest player. The squad will also include two representatives of the English Pool Association plus one from Wales.


Qualification to determine the amateur participants will take place in August at venues across the country. The tour will then depart on 14 October and return on 23 October.

“I think this is a
 fantastic initiative and it will be a major shot in the arm for pool in the 
northern and southern hemispheres,” said Alan Benton, the English Pool Association’s tournament director. “The Aussies have shown great dedication and loyalty travelling to the UK every year for the WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championships. So it will be great to repay their support and commitment. And it’s a fabulous opportunity for three English amateurs to be part of a team including top players.”



Joe Fanto, President of the Australian Eight Ball Federation, welcomed the news
 of the British Lions tour.  “We’re looking forward to restarting good old-fashioned eight-ball rivalry
 between the Aussies and the Poms,” he said. “We have only had success over the Brits in two major events – the 1996 World Championships in Manchester and the 2004 World Cup in Surfers Paradise. We’ve always wanted more battles on Australian soil. The majority of the time we have had to play the Brits overseas in their own conditions.”

In addition to the Lions tour to Australia, it’s planned to take another 
squad to Africa in 2012 to develop the strong links always established by
 the World Eight-Ball Pool Federation’s world championships. South Africa have been regular visitors for more than a decade, recently joined by Uganda and Kenya.

So a delegation will travel to Uganda next January to hold talks with representatives from the east African nations plus Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan. It’s then hoped to stage Test matches in September 2012. For full competition rules and details, including dates and qualifying
 venues for amateur players, visit www.epa.org.uk.

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