Lions Tour 2021 July in South Africa Rugby


Posted June 23, 2021 by charlesviator

The British and Irish Lions will play eight matches in their tour of South Africa, culminating in three Tests against the world champions

 
The countdown to the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa is on. Lions head coach Warren Gatland has named an expanded 37-man squad for the eight-match tour of South Africa - culminating in three Tests against the world champions.
The British and Irish Lions will play eight matches in their tour of South Africa, culminating in three Tests against the world champions

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is set to name his 36-man squad for the tour to South Africa this summer to take on the World Champion Springboks.

The best players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland will come together under one badge in the famous red shirt to take part in the tour which only takes place every four years.

Here is everything you need to know about the squad announcement....

All the questions are set to be answered this afternoon as we find out which 37 men coach Warren Gatland has chosen to represent the British & Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa this summer.

At various stages over the past 12 months it has seemed unlikely the tour would go ahead at all, let alone in South Africa, but we are now less than two months away from departure day for Gatland’s squad.


Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones has been named captain, as expected, but there is a nervous wait for the 50-odd players in contention as they wait to see if they’ll be handed an honour that every English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish rugby player dreams of.


Team chairman Jason Leonard will make the announcement on Gatland’s behalf in a virtual ceremony scheduled to get underway around 12pm BST.

The British & Irish Lions are currently in Jersey for a training camp to prepare for their summer tour in South Africa.

At the end of their training camp, the Lions will fly to Edinburgh where they will play Japan in a pre-tour warm up match at Murrayfield, before heading to Johannesburg to commence their six-week campaign - culminating in a test clash against the Springboks.

The full tour will be played in the province of Gauteng, to reduce the need for travel for the squad and to minimise the risk of disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton believes Warren Gatland can cement his legacy in South Africa.

After leading the squad to a series victory in Australia eight years ago and a draw against New Zealand in 2017, Gatland completes the set against the Springboks this summer.


"Even now he is probably the most successful Lions head coach with two undefeated tours," said Warburton.

"To do three would see him cement himself as an icon of Lions rugby."

Warburton was Lions captain for the past two tours under Gatland.

"He is already a Lions great but to have three unbeaten Test tours under his belt would be tough to beat and a record that would probably stand for a long time," added Warburton.

Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones has taken over as skipper and Warburton believes the second-row is the perfect person to navigate the side through a tour like no other.

The 37-man squad will have to prosper in its own bubble for almost two months with no travelling fans because of Covid-19

Jones has 148 caps for Wales and played in nine Lions Tests on the last three tours before being handed the permanent captaincy. >>>> https://www.britishirishlionslive.com/
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Last Updated June 23, 2021