The 2009 British Lions should take note.

Key members of the last side to be successful in South Africa wowed a York audience at a prestigious lunch with the secrets of how they beat the Springboks.

Jeremy Guscott, Scott Gibbs, Doddie Weir, Paul Wallace, John Bentley and manager Fran Cotton left a sell-out audience of 500 spellbound when they took the stage at The Lions’ Lunch at York Racecourse.

The event, organised by York-based Sporting Connexions, raised tens of thousands of pounds for charitable causes – including more than £28,000 in an auction alone.

The 1997 Lions, led by current coach Ian McGeechan, shocked world champions South Africa with a 2-1 win in the three Test series. With the Springboks top of the world again and the Lions set to return in the summer, the former greats drew on the similarities between the two tours.

Scott Gibbs, whose flattening tackle on Os du Randt in the second test 12 years ago became legend, told The Press he was delighted to be in York and had special memories of that tour.

“They are memorable trips in their own right but this one was different,” said Gibbs. “We won but there was a certain dynamic in the pool of players. That doesn’t come round every four years. It might only come round every two decades.

“I was fortunate to be part of a special group of individuals who collectively came together and showed South Africa how to play rugby and how to win Test football.

“We took our chances in that Test arena and they didn’t take theirs.”

Doddie Weir, whose tour was ended by a knee injury against Mpumalanga Province, said a Lions tour was like the “rugby Olympics”.

“It’s a similar picture to 12 years ago,” he said. “They are world champions, it’s their patch. I think the team will generally be made up of the Welsh and Irish and there’s a lot of talk already. The build up is starting already, as is the hype. I can’t wait for it. It’s like the rugby Olympics in some ways.”

Asked about the prospects for the Lions this time in South Africa, Gibbs added: “I am incredibly encouraged McGeechan is at the helm. Notwithstanding his credentials, he is a great man manager and totally understands how to beat the Boks. I think South Africa are still seething from that disappointment back in 97. They have a very strong pool of players. It’s going to be a very tough tour for the British Lions and it is about how they galvanise themselves.”

Mark Pepper, of Sporting Connexions, said: “I am very proud of the reaction of the York community to this lunch. We are delighted to have once again raised significant sums for charity.

“One of the highlights of the day for me was coach Ian McGeechan inviting 25 children to watch and train with the British Lions – an auction prize which fetched £8,000. Now we are looking forward to raising more money at a lunch with Sir Michael Parkinson on June 25.”

For more information, log on to www.sportingconnexions.com