The schedule has been confirmed for the British & Irish Lions’s tour of South Africa this summer. Warren Gatland’s side will play five warm-up matches before taking on the Springboks in three Tests.
All eight games will be played in Gauteng or Cape Town, the Lions said. This is to “minimise the risks of disruption that could be caused by the Covid-19 pandemic” and the schedule “accommodates stable team bases and training venues and significantly reduces travel”. SA Rugby will organise all scheduled tour games “on the basis they will take place behind closed doors”.
Lions managing director Ben Calveley said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption to the global sporting calendar, but after discussions with our partners at SA Rugby, we are very pleased to be able to give confirmation of the revised tour schedule.
“While things will undoubtedly look different to a typical Lions tour, together with SA Rugby we are determined to deliver an uninterrupted series for the players who will take the field, as well as the many millions of people watching at home.
“We would like to thank all Lions supporters for their patience and understanding as we continue to navigate our way through the impact of the pandemic, and also extend our enormous gratitude to our commercial partners for their incredible ongoing support.”
Lions tour of South Africa 2021 fixtures
Emirates Lions vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Saturday 3 July
When: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Time: 5pm BST
Cell C Sharks vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Wednesday 7 July
Where: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Time: 7pm BST
Vodacom Bulls vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Saturday 10 July
Where: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Time: 5pm BST
South Africa ‘A’ vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Wednesday 14 July
Where: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Time: 7pm BST
DHL Stormers vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Saturday 17 July
Where: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Time: 5pm BST
1st Test: Springboks vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Saturday 24 July
Where: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Time: 5pm BST
2nd Test: Springboks vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Saturday 31 July
Where: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Time: 5pm BST
3rd Test: Springboks vs. The British & Irish Lions
When: Saturday 7 August
Where: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Time: 5pm BST
British & Irish Lions squad
The Lions squad is made up of players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Head coach Warren Gatland has picked a 37-man squad for the South Africa tour. Wales star Alun Wyn Jones has been named captain.
- Backs: Josh Adams (Wales), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Gareth Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Chris Harris (Scotland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Ali Price (Scotland), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), Finn Russell (Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Anthony Watson (England), Liam Williams (Wales)
- Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Jack Conan (Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Tom Curry (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Jonny Hill (England), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales – captain), Wyn Jones (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Sam Simmonds (England), Kyle Sinckler (England), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Hamish Watson (Scotland)