News, Rugby March 2, 2020

British and Irish Lions set to roar down in South Africa

As far as rugby tours go the British & Irish Lions is considered by players and fans as the greatest international rugby tour of them all. And so in 2021, the best players pulling on the shirts of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the time will converge on South Africa. This is to be a tour of immense significance, brimful of emotion and evoking memories among those of us long enough in the tooth to remember those invincible Lions of 1974, under the leadership of one Willie John McBride, a squad that would go through that tour undefeated with 23 victories and a controversial draw.

We are now almost three years on from the last moments of magic down in New Zealand 2017, when Warren Gatland’s Lions ended that incredible series all square against the All Blacks, with one win apiece. That final Test in Auckland, failed to fit a fish and chip paper between the two teams.

New Zealand welcomed an insurgence of literally tens of thousands of Lions fans from all points of the compass, roaring on their heroes at every opportunity. On this occasion supporters are expected to flood into the land of the Springboks in equal, if not greater, measure.

A once in a lifetime experience, visiting South Africa one of the greatest rugby nations on earth, surely an incentive to book those British & Irish Lions tour tickets and make sure you’re on the plane. Expat Sport at your service by the way.

Returning to a tale of 2017 Gatland, back at the coaching helm again in 2021, and his pedigree squad responded valiantly to a heavy 30-15 defeat in the first Test by seizing a 24-21 victory in Wellington, to set up a deciding showdown in the third Test in Auckland.
Yet after 80 high intensity minutes in this third and deciding match, the teams remained deadlocked at 15-15 to share the series, and write yet another fascinating chapter of Lions history.

So what is in store this time round for travelling British & Irish Lions fans?

Full British & Irish Lions tour schedule

Please see dates and venues now confirmed for South Africa 2021 below:

Playing against
Date
Venue

DHL Stormers
Sat 3rd July
Capetown Stadium, Capetown

South Africa Invitational
Wed 7th July
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Cell C Sharks
Sat 10th of July
Jonsson Kings Park, Durban

South Africa A
Wed 14th of July
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Vodacom Bulls
Sat 17th of July
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

South Africa – 1st Test
Sat 24th of July
FNB Stadium, Johannesberg

South Africa – 2nd Test
Sat 31st of July
Capetown Stadium, Capetown

South Africa – 3rd Test
Sat 7th of August
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

Love The Lions, the legends, camaraderie and the special bond they create with their fans, then there is nothing like being there with them. The electric atmosphere of games as the intensity rises: the tackles, breakdowns and rucks, glorious weaving runs, intelligent grubbers and tries, along with the skill and tension of make or break long range kicks, all amidst the ‘Sea of Red’. Nothing beats a British & Irish Lions Tour and above all the memories live on.

A tradition spanning three centuries, Lions tours are quite simply special, the biggest and best rugby tour experience imaginable and undoubtedly South Africa with its incredible scenery and great history of the game will make it so.

Every four years Expat Sport works fastidiously to create the very best match-ticketed tour experiences for rugby supporters wanting to embark on rugby’s ultimate adventure to follow those hugely respected British & Irish Lions on their quintessential sporting journey.

To ensure you receive up to the minute information on all our Expat Sport British and Irish Lions tour 2021 tickets and packages please register your interest here: https://www.expatsport.com/sporting-events/the-british-and-irish-lions-2021