Miles Harrison admits he feared he might never see another series after being diagnosed with cancer in 2021
Sky Sports commentator Miles Harrison says he has ‘never felt more blessed’ to be involved on this latest British and Irish Lions tour.
Harrison is poised to be back behind the mic once again for the third and final Test between the Wallabies and the Lions on Saturday, with Andy Farrell’s men going in search of a historic series whitewash. You can follow Australia vs the Lions live here.
For many viewers, Harrison’s commentary has been synonymous with coverage of the team over the years, although a health scare saw his involvement restricted in South Africa.
The 59-year-old was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2021, and his recovery meant he was forced to sit out nearly the entire tour before returning for the third Test with the Springboks in Cape Town.
The tour Down Under is the eighth Lions series he’s worked on, but during the heights of that scare, he admits he struggled to see how he would make it to Australia.
Taking to X, he posted: “It’s been a ‘journey’ as they say. Four years ago, I wasn’t even sure I’d see another @lionsofficial Tour, let alone work on one.
“I just want to say a massive public thanks to everybody who has helped along the way.
“I have never felt more blessed to do what I do.”
Harrison’s diagnosis came on the back of a concerning change in his bowel habit, which would see him need the toilet up to four times in the morning, while he was also losing weight.
When he received the news, the threat to his involvement in one of the greatest showpieces in rugby was one of the first things to enter his mind.
“When the doctor discovered the cancer in my bowel I said, ‘Can I make the Lions?’ That was my first thought,” he told the Daily Mail.
“I got the feeling he wasn’t really into rugby, so I got a look of ‘what’s he talking about?!’ but the surgeon knew exactly and said, ‘Yeah, we’ll try and get you fit for the third Test’.
“That became my external goal, away from the emotional and family stuff.
“It became a nice driver.
“I could watch the series, and think, ‘If this goes well I could still be part of it’.
“My attitude was always that I’d be competitive and beat it.
“That’s a legacy of being surrounded by sportspeople. It rubs off in a way, and is probably inside me as I’m quite competitive anyway.”