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”.