Cheeky All Blacks fan pokes fun at Lions rugby team by selling "a Lions try" online

A mischevious All Blacks fan has sold a British and Irish Lions "try" on Trade Me ahead of Saturday's first test at Eden Park. Photo / Greg Bowker

A cheeky All Blacks fan has poked fun at the Lions rugby team by selling "a Lions try" online, prompting a backlash of both banter and abuse.

The "rare phenomenon as scarce as a good French referee" was snapped up for $42 when the Trade Me auction closed this morning.

"Try is in great condition as it has not often seen the light of day," the tongue-in-cheek listing read.

"No BUY NOW as it is widely known that the British and Irish Lions cannot BUY a try. Not to be confused with the more common ALL BLACKS TRY."

Many Lions tries have been available in the past, the listing said, but historically are spurned in favour of the "much more common Lions penalty with its much less value and spectator appeal".

The touring British and Irish Lions team has been accused of playing conservative rugby, dubbed "Warrenball" after the perceived tactics dreamed up by Kiwi-born coach Warren Gatland.

The sale's lead photo showed Blues player Ihaia West scoring against the Lions earlier in the tour, which the seller said demonstrated to the Lions how it could be done.

With all proceeds going to Kids in the Middle, a charity initiative of Women's Refuge, the winning bidder also received a framed copy photograph of West's try.

If the winning bidder was "English", they would also as an extra special bonus get "a tub of hair gel so you can dress up as your favourite player".

The sale garnered 28,404 views and 35 bids.

It also sparked a flurry of questions - all of which the seller dutifully replied to.

"Is this auction for a 'Lions Test Try against the All Blacks'? Or does such thing only exist in the realm of unicorns, leprechauns, bigfoot, and the Loch Ness monster?" one wag asked.

The seller replied: "Yes! Hey even ole Nessie has been spotted a few times.... But never in NZ waters!"

Another asked: "What year is it? I didn't think the 2017 version was available yet and was still in concept stage?"

"This is a '71 vintage mate... Dusted off for this tour!"

There have been other examples of sports fans dreaming up inventive auctions.

Last year, a supporter of lower league English football team Basingstoke Town FC listed the club on eBay with an opening price of just 99p.

The "publicity stunt" was later removed as the club trended on Twitter.

After England crashed out of the 2006 Football World Cup at the quarterfinals stage, a gleeful Scottish punter put the team on eBay with a mock price-tag of 1966 British pounds.