Lions tour 2021 fixtures in full and TV times
The British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa will kick off this summer and the matches will be the hosts' first in almost two years.
Coronavirus restrictions have meant the Springboks have not been able to compete on an international stage since they defeated England 32-12 in the Rugby World Cup final in November 2019.
Covid hasn't only impacted South Africa's game time as it has affected the tour itself.
The Lions' outing to South Africa has been cut from 10 games to eight and there has been a debate around where the tour would be held.
While the tour still has South African stadiums listed in their schedule, the idea of it being held in the United Kingdom was mooted, but this has since been abandoned.
What are the fixtures for the 2021 tour?
While the exact stadiums to hold the matches are not confirmed yet, the tour have provisional locations in place.
The Lions have warm-up games with a South Africa Invitational side, the Sharks, South Africa A and the Bulls before the tests against South Africa begin.
Fixtures for those matches are as follows:
Saturday, June 26 vs Japan, Murrayfield, kick-off TBC
Saturday, July 3 vs Stormers, Cape Town, kick-off TBC
Wednesday, July 7 vs South Africa invitational team, Port Elizabeth, kick-off TBC
Saturday, July 10 vs Sharks, Durban, kick-off TBC
Wednesday, July 14 vs South Africa A, Mbombela, kick-off TBC
Saturday, July 17 vs Bulls, Pretoria, kick-off TBC
Then the main three tests against South Africa begin at the end of July, the details are:
Saturday, July 24 vs South Africa, Cape Town, kick-off TBC
Saturday, July 31 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, kick-off TBC
Saturday, August 7 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, kick-off TBC
TV and live stream details
Sky Sports have the exclusive rights to show all of the warm-up games and the tests.
The specific channels and the time coverage will begin are yet to be confirmed.
Who are the coaches?
Head coach Warren Gatland will announce his team on Thursday, May 6 but he has revealed the coaching staff he will be working with on the tour.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been brought in as the attack coach, former Wales coach Robin McBryde will be the forwards coach and Scotland's defence coach Steve Tandy is working with the backs. The three coaches will embark on their first Lions tour this summer.
Kicking coach Neil Jenkins will be a part of the staff for his fourth tour with the prestigious team.
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