British & Irish Lions 2021 Fixtures
The British & Irish Lions 2021 will play eight matches on their tour to South Africa, as well as a pre-tour Test against Japan in Edinburgh.
The schedule has changed from that originally announced due to the pandemic. All matches in South Africa will now take place in the Gauteng province or Cape Town, while the SA Invitational team has been replaced by the Jo’burg-based Lions franchise in the fixture list.
As well as the Lions, the British & Irish tourists will face the Stormers, Sharks (twice) and South Africa A in the warm-up fixtures. The Bulls fixture, scheduled for 10 July, was postponed after Covid cases at the Pretoria-based franchise. To fill the breach, the Sharks agreed to meet the Lions for a second time.
All three Tests will be played in Cape Town. The second two were originally due to be staged at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, but tour organisers decided to conclude the series in Cape Town to minimise Covid-19 risks.
Cape Town Stadium will host the first South Africa v Lions Test (AFP/Getty Images)
The 2021 tour will be the third time in the last four series that the Lions have faced the world champions. It is also the third straight tour to South Africa when the Springboks have been holders of the World Cup, following the trips in 1997 and 2009.
On their last tour in 2017, the Lions drew the series against New Zealand. In 2013, they beat Australia 2-1, but on their last visit to South Africa in 2009 the series was lost 2-1.
Warren Gatland is head coach for the third straight tour, having first been involved with the Lions as an assistant coach in 2009.
All matches will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland.
British & Irish Lions 2021 Fixtures
Sat 26 June British & Irish Lions 28-10 Japan
Sat 3 July Lions 14-56 British & Irish Lions
Wed 7 July Sharks 7-54 British & Irish Lions
Sat 10 July Sharks 31-71 British & Irish Lions
Wed 14 July South Africa A 17-13 British & Irish Lions
Sat 17 July Stormers 3-49 British & Irish Lions
Sat 24 July First Test – Springboks 17-22 British & Irish Lions
Sat 31 July Second Test – Springboks 27-9 British & Irish Lions
Sat 7 Aug Third Test – Springboks 19-16 British & Irish Lions
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