Clash looms as Lions tour fixtures revealed

DETAILS of the British and Irish Lions’ 10-match South Africa tour next year have been confirmed. The Lions will face three Tests against the Springboks, with Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg announced as respective venues — but a potential fixture clash is already looming.

The opening fixture of the tour, against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg, is scheduled for the same weekend as the 2009 Guinness Premiership final and under IRB regulations, clubs are not obliged to release players for non-international matches.

The matter was discussed at today’s preliminary meeting of the new Professional Game Board, the body that will officially take over the running of elite rugby in England from July 1, which is said to be “working hard with the Lions and other parties to find a solution”.

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan and head coach Shaun Edwards are strong favourites to be invited to lead the tour party, but will have to wait until next month to find out for certain.

The Lions will play in seven cities, facing a schedule that includes four midweek fixtures and six Saturday games. Their last visit to South Africa in 1997 produced a memorable 2-1 Test series triumph. As on that occasion, the Springboks are reigning world champions.

Newlands in Cape Town — a traditional Test venue for the Lions — has missed out this time, although it will stage two tour fixtures with Western Province and the Emerging Springboks lined up as opponents.

Lions chairman Andy Irvine said: “We are looking forward to touring such a wonderful country and playing the world champions on their own turf. “We are expecting tens of thousands of Lions fans to travel to South Africa in 2009, and we are certain that every one of them will come back with amazing memories.”

Regarding match tickets, John Feehan, chief executive of British Lions Limited, said: “As interest in tickets for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa 2009 is building significantly we would like to emphasise to all rugby supporters that only tickets purchased from official sources will enable entry to match venues.”

“By purchasing official Lions travel and hospitality packages supporters are making a direct contribution back into rugby in Great Britain and Ireland.”&

More information on the official licensed operators& is available at www.lionstour.com.

Itinerary: May 30, Highveld XV (Rustenburg); June 3, Golden Lions (Johannesburg); June 6, Cheetahs (Bloemfontein); June 10, Sharks (Durban); June 13, Western Province (Cape Town); June 16/17 tbc, Coastal XV tbc (Port Elizabeth tbc); June 20, South Africa (Durban); June 23, Emerging Springboks (Cape Town); June 27, South Africa (Pretoria); July 4, South Africa (Johannesburg).