2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
Date 3 June – 8 July
Coach(es) Warren Gatland
TBA →

The 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand will take place during June and July 2017. The tour will see the British and Irish Lions play 10 rugby union matches, including all five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises, a Provincial Unions XV, the Māori All Blacks and three test matches against New Zealand.[1][2] The Lions will look to win their first test series against New Zealand (commonly called the All Blacks) since 1971,[3] while also making a first back to back series win, following a 2–1 series win over Australia in 2013, since their 1971 and 1974 winning series. The Lions will be selected from players that represent England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[4]

On 7 September 2016, Wales' head coach Warren Gatland was named the Lions' head coach for the second consecutive time.[5]

Schedule

The 10-match schedule was announced on 9 July 2015, which will see the Lions play the New Zealand Super Rugby franchises for the first time. Previously, they played the provincial sides.[6]

Initially, the Lions were looking to set up a match against the United States in America to open the tour, much like the Barbarians match in Hong Kong in 2013.[7] However, on 6 July 2015, it was announced the idea had been scrapped due to some American players unable to be released by their clubs to make the match competitive enough.[8] Also, a match versus the Pacific Islanders was proposed in 2014.[9][10] The opening match of the tour was originally planned to be against a Provincial Union XV, however in March 2016, this was changed to the New Zealand Barbarians following their win over the Māori All Blacks.[11]

In New Zealand, there was criticism that there were too many matches in the North Island with only two matches being played in the South Island. Christchurch was initially planned to host a test match, but due to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake which damaged Lancaster Park beyond repair, it was deemed that the remaining stadiums in the South Island were too small to host a test match.[12]

Date Home team Score Away team Venue
3 June New Zealand Barbarians vs British and Irish Lions Toll Stadium, Whangarei
7 June Blues vs British and Irish Lions Eden Park, Auckland
10 June Crusaders vs British and Irish Lions AMI Stadium, Christchurch
13 June Highlanders vs British and Irish Lions Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
17 June Māori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
20 June Chiefs vs British and Irish Lions Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
24 June New Zealand vs British and Irish Lions Eden Park, Auckland
27 June Hurricanes vs British and Irish Lions Westpac Stadium, Wellington
1 July New Zealand vs British and Irish Lions Westpac Stadium, Wellington
8 July New Zealand vs British and Irish Lions Eden Park, Auckland

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Chris. "British and Irish Lions tour fixtures a necessity - chief executive John Feehan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "2017 tour". British and Irish Lions. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "British and Irish Lions announce 2017 New Zealand tour schedule". BBC Sport. 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  4. ↑ "British and Irish Lions 2017 New Zealand tour warmup match plans abandoned". Stuff.co.nz. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  5. ↑ "Warren Gatland confirmed as head coach of 2017 British & Irish Lions". Guardian. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "2017 TOUR SCHEDULE UNVEILED". lionsrugby.com. British Lions. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "British & Irish Lions weigh up 2017 US warm-up game en route to New Zealand". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Lions Scrap Plans to come to the USA". Ted Hardy. americasrugbynews.com. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  9. ↑ O'Driscoll wants Lions match in Pacific Islands - ESPN Scrum, 19 July 2014
  10. ↑ Samoan star calls the Lions the ‘most stuck-up’ team in the world after Pacific Island snub - The 42, 21 July 2015
  11. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11605608
  12. ↑ "Auckland to host two British and Irish Lions tests in 2017 New Zealand tour". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-07-13.

External links

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