Rugby: Lions match draws nearer

The Australian Rugby Union have announced that the first match of this year’s British Lions tour has been brought forward by a day to June 8.

The Australian Rugby Union have announced that the first match of this year’s Lions tour has been brought forward by a day to June 8.

The opening match between the Lions and Western Australia will be played at the WACA in Perth.

An ARU spokesman said the change was necessary because of a clash of matches with the proposed Australian warm-up match against New Zealand Maoris at Sydney Football Stadium on June 9.

"It is preferable that the Wallabies play on the Saturday because they would get a bigger crowd", he said.

"We tend to not want both teams playing on the same night."

The Lions are scheduled to play 10 matches during their six-week tour, including three Tests against the Wallabies.