Lions match set for terrestrial television for first time in 28 years

Sunday, 09 May 2021 at 22:01

byRugby Rucker

Channel 4 are in advanced talks to broadcast the British & Irish Lions’ opening fixture against Japan at Murrayfield this summer.

The rights for the series in South Africa have already been sold to Sky Sports, but reports from various outlets on Sunday has revealed the warm-up match is still open for bids.

It is the first-ever clash between the world's greatest touring side and the Brave Blossoms and will raise the curtain for the Lions' eagerly awaited tour to South Africa.

Warren Gatland, the Lions head coach, views the fixture as an important opportunity to fast-track preparations for the three-Test series against the Springboks, given that the tour has already been shortened by two games from the tour of New Zealand in 2017.

Lions Tour 2021 full fixtures

There is still some uncertainty about where some matches will be played. Here's the latest schedule:

Saturday, June 26... Japan... Murrayfield... Channel 4/TBC... KO TBC
Saturday July 3... Stormers... Cape Town... Sky Sports... KO 7pm
Wednesday, July 7... South Africa Invitational... Port Elizabeth... Sky Sports... KO 7pm
Saturday, July 10... Sharks... Durban... Sky Sports... KO 7pm
Wednesday, July 14... South Africa A... Mbombela... Sky Sports... KO 7pm
Saturday, July 17... Bulls... Pretoria... Sky Sports... KO 7pm
Saturday, July 24... South Africa... Cape Town... Sky Sports... KO 5pm
Saturday, July 31... South Africa... Johannesburg... Sky Sports... KO 5pm
Saturday, August 7... South Africa... Johannesburg... Sky Sports... KO 5pm

Sir Ian McGeechan picks SEVEN Englishmen in his all-time Lions dream team

BACK-THREE:

15. Gavin Hastings (Scotland) - “He was strong under the high ball, could kick the ball a mile and was really strong in the contract, where you could play off him.”
14. Ieuan Evans (Wales) - “A favourite of mine who went on three Lions tours in 1989, 1993 and 1997. He was a lethal finisher.”
11. Tommy Bowe (Ireland) - “His influence on the games in 2009 was massive. He has speed and power, and of all the wingers I have seen he cuts the best lines and he does it so late, too,”

CENTRE:

13. Jeremy Guscott (England) - “He was the runner but had the toughness too,”
12. Scott Gibbs (Wales) - “There are not too many backs who have total respect from the forwards, but Gibbsy was one of them. His physical work was huge.”

HALFBACKS:

10. Gregor Townsend (Scotland) - “I’ve gone for the ball player. He was one of the most talented fly-halves I ever coached.”
9. Matt Dawson (England) - “I have always thought that he was the reason why Jonny Wilkinson played so well for England, simply because of the ball Daws gave him and when he gave it to him.”

FRONT-ROW:

1. David Sole (Scotland) - “I remember saying that he would be the prototype for the modern-day prop with his skills and mobility. That has definitely proved to be the case.”
2. Brian Moore (England) - “He was a ferocious competitor.”
3. Dai Young (Wales) - “He was a real tough nut and he was outstanding in Australia in 1989 when he was still so young.”

SECOND-ROW:

4. Martin Johnson (England) - “I put his name down and moved on. It was as simple as that.”
5. Paul O’Connell (Ireland) - “In that 2009 series you just saw how good he was; he was world-class.”

BACK-ROW:

6. Mike Teague (England) - ‘He simply had a huge impact in 1989.”
7. Richard Hill (England) - “He was incredible in 1997. He was a players’ player.”
8. Lawrence Dallaglio (England) - “He had the intellect in high pressure situations to do the right thing.”