Danny lands just in time to see Lions' first Test; Supporter's epic journey to see game.

Byline: Mari Ropstad

HE travelled 22,000 miles, spent an extra pounds 5,000 and crossed three continents but rugby fan Danny Evans made it to the first Lions test by the skin of his teeth.

The Echo told on Saturday how Danny, originally from Creigiau, near Cardiff, was left gutted when immigration officials in Cape Town initially turned him away because he did not have enough clear pages left in his passport.

That was the start of en epic journey which saw Danny, 47 who runs a ladder company in Toronto, Canada, return to Wales via Holland to get a new passport before flying back to South Africa just in time for the first test.

"I was never certain I would make it," said Danny, who was still sat in Heathrow Airport at 7.20pm on Friday night with less than 19 hours to kick-off in Durban.

"If any of my flights were late I would have missed the match and I had to pinch myself when I was actually sitting down in the stadium to check I wasn't dreaming it.

"I know they lost, but to me it was all worth it. It is such a fantastic atmosphere and a once-in-a-lifetime chance and everyone who helped me get here deserve a big thank you."

Danny had to fork out pounds 4,950 on top of what he originally paid when he booked the trip and admitted to being "a little tired" after the epic journey.

The Lions trip was booked to mark the 74th birthday of his dad Gwyn, from Creigiau. The two were also joined by Danny's brother Mike and friend Phil Miles.

Danny flew from Toronto to Heathrow and then to Cardiff to meet up with his father and friend.

The three then got on a plane to Amsterdam to meet up with Mike before boarding a flight to Cape Town.

Having been turned away, Danny, 47, went back to Amsterdam and then to Cardiff where friend Darren Craigan picked him up and drove him to Newport passport office for a new passport.

Darren then took him to Heathrow where Danny took a flight to Cape Town and finally a flight to Durban.

He will now follow the Lions tour until he returns to Canada on July 1. "I had to use the return ticket I originally booked when I was turned away in Cape Town so now I have to fly to London and spend a night there before flying back to Canada," he said.

"But the main thing was that I got here in time for the first Test. Don't get me wrong, I wish none of this had happened, but it turned out all right in the end.

"My father, brother and me are all huge rugby fans and I didn't want going on a tour to turn into something we always talked about but never did.

"Not everyone's parents get to 74 and this was for dad's birthday so I had to get there. And I did." Lions reports: see Echo Sport

CAPTION(S):

Danny's old passport How we told the story in Saturday's Echo Danny Evans, far right, with dad Gwyn, second right, brother Mike, far left, and friend Phil Miles at the Lions first Test in Durban, South Africa, after his 22,000-mile trip