British & Irish Lions broadcaster for 2021 series set to be confirmed

bySteven Smith

Sky Sports are understood to have once again secured the rights to broadcast the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

SKY, who broadcast the tour to New Zealand in 2017, have declined to comment, but the deal is reportedly done.

It's understood that kick-off times will scheduled so there will be no clashes with Olympic events next summer.

Therefore, the Test matches will have a kick-off time of 5pm in South Africa (6pm in South Africa).

Sales of tickets and official supporter travel packages for the Lions tour have been delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

British & Irish Lions 2021 | Full tour schedule

Saturday July 3 British & Irish Lions v DHL Stormers
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Wednesday July 7 British & Irish Lions v South Africa ‘Invitational’
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Saturday July 10 British & Irish Lions v Cell C Sharks
Jonsson Kings Park, Durban

Wednesday July 14 British & Irish Lions v South Africa ‘A’ Team
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Saturday July 17 British & Irish Lions v Vodacom Bulls
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Saturday July 24 – first Test Springboks v British & Irish Lions
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Saturday July 31 – second Test Springboks v British & Irish Lions
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Saturday August 7 – third Test Springboks v British & Irish Lions
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

UPDATED | British & Irish Lions predicted 2021 starting XV, according to the bookies

Odds are accurate on Wednesday,3rd July, 8am, and are subject to change.

Fullback: LIAM WILLIAMS (Wales 4/7)

Other contenders: Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Jordan Larmour (Ireland EVS), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales 5/1), George Furbank (England 7/2)

Left wing: JONNY MAY (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 1/3), Adam Radwan (England 40/1), Jack Nowell (England 11/4), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales 13/8)

Outside-centre: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales 1/3)

Other contenders: Henry Slade (England 5/6), Garry Ringshow (Ireland 4/6), Jonathan Joseph (England 13/8), Chris Harris (Scotland 20/1), Huw Jones (Scotland 6/1)

Inside-centre: MANU TUILAGI (England 1/3)

Other contenders: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland 5/6), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales 5/4), Sam Johnson (Scotland 9/2)

Right wing: JOSH ADAMS (Wales 1/18)

Other contenders: Anthony Watson (England 4/6), George North (Wales 2/1), Elliot Daly (England 10/11), Joe Cokanasiga (England 3/1), Keith Earls (Ireland 9/2)

Fly-half: OWEN FARRELL (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Johnny Sexton (Ireland 1/2), Dan Biggar (Wales 8/15), Finn Russell (Scotland 3/1), Marcus Smith (England 8/1)

Scrum-half: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland 4/6)

Other contenders: Tomos Williams (Wales 5/4), Ben Youngs (England 6/4), Ali Price (Scotland 2/1)

Looshead-prop: MAKO VUNIPOLA (England 4/6)

Other contenders: Ellis Genge (England 1/3), Cian Healy (Ireland 5/6), Joe Marler (England 5/2)

Hooker: JAMIE GEORGE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England 4/6), Ken Owens (Wales 7/4), Stuart McInally (Scotland 7/2)

Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland 1/15)

Other contenders: Kyle Sinckler (England 1/5), Tomas Francis (Wales 11/8), Harry Williams (England 5/1)

Lock: MATO ITOJE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: James Ryan (Ireland 1/5), Jonny Gray (Scotland 8/11)

Lock: ALUN WYN JONES (Wales 1/5)

Other contenders: Iain Henderson (Ireland 4/6), Courtney Lawes (England 5/4), George Kruis (England 7/2), Jean Kleyn (Ireland 33/1), Richie Gray (Scotland 5/1)