When is the British & Irish Lions squad announcement? All you need to know ahead of the All Blacks summer showdown
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2015 Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand provide a daunting challenge for the British & Irish Lions this summer.
The Lions’ only Test series triumph against the All Blacks was in 1971, with six wins, three draws and 29 defeats in the record books.
Head Coach Warren Gatland, who guided the Lions to a 2-1 series last time out Down Under in 2013 against Australia, has the tricky task of assembling his best line-up for the job for the 10-match tour.
(Photo: AFP)
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT
Gatland will name is 37-man Lions squad on Wednesday April 19 at the Hilton London Syon Park Hotel.
Graham Rowntree (Harlequins) and Neil Jenkins (Wales) joined the coaching team earlier this month having served on the staff during the victorious 2013 campaign. They join fellow coaches Steve Borthwick, Andy Farrell and Rob Howley.
WHEN DOES IT START?
The tour begins on June 3 against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei
A 10-match schedule will see the Lions play at seven different venues. Auckland’s Eden Park, the venue for New Zealand’s 2011 Rugby World Cup final triumph, will stage two out of the three Lions Tests.
(Photo: Getty)
WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES?
Unsurprisingly the World champion All Blacks lead the way. (odds courtesy of SkyBET)
New Zealand - 2/9
British & Irish Lions - 100/30
Drawn Series - 28-1
(Photo: Getty)
HOW MUCH DO TICKETS COST?
They aren’t cheap. Tickets for the three Tests range from £79-£239, while the other matches cost from £20-£70.
Due to accommodation prices spiralling out of control in host cities, New Zealand rugby fans have created an initiative to host British & Irish Lions fans who have struggled to book accommodation.
CAN WE WATCH IT ON T.V?
Rugby fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports HD. For those without Sky, Talksport will be providing live UK radio commentary of all 10 tour matches including the Tests. Sadly people with terrestrial T.V will be missing out from the sofa, with no highlights or internet streaming outside of Sky's coverage planned for broadcast.