Lions tour of NZ features 10 matches, says paper

8.00am

The British Lions will undergo a 10-match rugby tour of New Zealand next year according to reports in a British newspaper.

The Guardian said the Lions' "daunting" itinerary features three tests against the All Blacks, five matches against NPC first division opponents, one against second division opponents Manawatu and New Zealand Maori.

The newspaper said the itinerary had been drawn up by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and would kick off with a match against Bay of Plenty on June 4.

It will be the shortest tour to New Zealand undertaken by the Lions, ending with the third test on July 9.

All five first division opponents and New Zealand Maori match would be played before the first test, scheduled for Christchurch on June 25. The other tests are in Wellington and Auckland, according to the report.

The other pre-test opponents, in order, are Taranaki, New Zealand Maori, Wellington, Otago and Southland.

The game against Manawatu is scheduled for between the first and second tests, with no midweek fixture in the final week of the tour.

That was also the case on the 2001 Lions tour of Australia when some of the dirt-trackers, whose tour was effectively over, began publicly expressing their discontent.

The Lions took 35 players to Australia and, with only three competitive matches before the first meeting with the Wallabies, some players felt they were not given a proper chance to make their case for a test place. The opening two games were walkovers against manifestly inferior opposition.

That will not be the case in New Zealand, where the midweek side will be put to the test in the opening three weeks with matches at Taranaki, Wellington and Southland, the latter in Invercargill on New Zealand's shortest day, June 21.

The Guardian reported the NZRU was trying to arrange at least one warm-up fixture to avoid going into the first test cold.

The Lions are expected to announce their coach and manager for the tour next month, with the England pair Sir Clive Woodward and Bill Beaumont the favourites.

The series will have added spice because the All Blacks will be directed by the man who was in charge of the 2001 Lions, the former Wales coach Graham Henry.

Reported Lions rugby itinerary:

June 4: v Bay of Plenty

June 7: v Taranaki

June 11: v New Zealand Maori

June 14: v Wellington

June 18: v Otago

June 21: v Southland

June 25: first test, Christchurch

June 28: v Manawatu

July 2: second test, Wellington

July 9: third test, Auckland

- NZPA