The highly anticipated British and Irish Lions 2021 tour of South Africa will be hosted from July 3 to August 7, 2021.
This tour is set to make history, with the Lions set to play in front of the largest-ever crowd for a Lions Test since the game turned professional.
The FNB Stadium in Johannesburg will host the first test on Saturday, July 24. The eight-game schedule includes six weekend fixtures.
Rassie Erasmus, SARU Director of Rugby, said the tour was “a once-in-a-lifetime playing opportunity for South African players”.
“There are players who have been to three Rugby World Cups and finished their careers with a winner’s medal and yet never got to play against the Lions,” he said.
Warren Gatland, the British and Irish Lions Head Coach, is excited about the itinerary. “Touring South Africa is always a huge challenge, not only from a rugby perspective, but also in terms of the venues and the conditions facing the players.
“The venues we have agreed open up the matches to a vast audience and will undoubtedly provide an unforgettable experience for the players and travelling supporters alike.”
Full 2021 British and Irish Lions tour schedule:
Saturday 3 July: DHL Stormers – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Wednesday 7 July: SA ‘Invitational’ – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Saturday 10 July: Cell C Sharks – Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Saturday 17 July: Vodacom Bulls – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday 24 July (first Test): Springboks – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday 31 July (second Test): Springboks – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday 7 August (third Test): Springboks – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
