British and Irish Lions

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s British and Irish Lions news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

British & Irish Lions flanker Hamish Watson ruled out

Lions flanker Hamish Watson ruled out of Murrayfield clash

23 June 2021 3 comments

Justin Tipuric will now start for the Lions against Japan in place of Watson, ruled out through a conc

British & Irish Lions fly-half Owen Farrell

Owen Farrell voted into Lions leadership group by players

23 June 2021 2 comments

A players’ vote proposed by Warren Gatland had the England captain as an overwhelming favourite for the leadership group

British & Irish Lions squad to play Japan

British & Irish Lions name team to take on Japan in 1888 Cup

22 June 2021 1 comment

Head coach Warren Gatland has named his British & Irish Lions squad to take on Japan at Murrayfield

Scotland captaincy eases pain for Jamie Ritchie

20 June 2021 0 comments

After missing out on Lions selection, flanker Jamie Ritchie has found inspiration from NRL coach Frank Ponissi to lead Scotlan

Springboks have electric backs, it won’t all be route one – Sean O’Brien

13 June 2021 1 comment

DON’T be surprised if this summer’s Lions series against South Africa turns into something more captivating than an uncompromising, physical slog. That is the advice […]

World Rugby confirm referees to take charge of Lions tour Tests

8 June 2021 0 comments

Australian Nic Berry will take the reins for the first Test between the British & Irish Lions and the Springboks on July 24

Glen Webbe wants Lions to present a united front

6 June 2021 3 comments

GLEN WEBBE – the first black player to play for Wales – has urged both the British & Irish Lions and South Africa to […]

British & Irish Lions winger Louis-Rees Zammit

Chavhanga: Fast tracks in South Africa built for Louis Rees-Zammit

30 May 2021 0 comments

Former Springboks wing Tonderai Chavhanga famously clocked a 100m time of 10.2s and sees Rees-Zammit feeling at home on South African pitches

Panasonic Wild Knights centre Hadleigh Parkes

Japan have the pace to burn Gatland’s Lions says Parkes

28 May 2021 0 comments

The Top League title-winner with Panasonic Wild Knights has seen enough to know the Lions would be dangerous to underestimate Japan

Bok Watch: La Rochelle offer Lions blueprint to stop Cheslin Kolbe

23 May 2021 0 comments

Daniel Gallan kept a close eye on the Saffas who featured at Twickenham over the European Cup final weekend

British & Irish Lions to host fans at Murrayfield

Murrayfield to host 16,500 fans for British & Irish Lions clash with Japan

19 May 2021 0 comments

The Scottish government and SRU agree to allow 16,500 fans to attend the first match of the Lions schedule against Japan

Lions cash ‘should go to game’s grassroots’

16 May 2021 2 comments

THE Lions will be almost three times better off than their victorious predecessors in South Africa this summer despite a 25 per cent pay cut. […]

Lions will no longer travel to Port Elizabeth, Durban or Nelpruit in 2021

14 May 2021 2 comments

The Lions Test and provincial matches will all be held in either Cape Town or Gauteng

British & Irish Lions chairman Jason Leonard

British & Irish Lions pre-tour clash with Japan to be broadcast live by Channel 4

12 May 2021 2 comments

The match at Murrayfield on June 26 will signal a return to terrestrial television for the first time in 28 years

Big mistake not picking Danny Care, insists Bracken

9 May 2021 0 comments

Kyran Bracken’s reaction to the Lions squad announcement, with Conor Murray, Ali Price and Gareth Davies selected to tour South Africa

Genge tells Lions: Be wary of Jasper Wiese

9 May 2021 2 comments

The England prop believes Leicester teammate Jasper Wiese is in with a shout of playing for the Springboks this summer against the Lions

British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland on the 2009 tour

Gatland: I learned from 2009 to start fast

9 May 2021 0 comments

Gatland intends to put Faf de Klerk on the back-foot in this summer’s Lions tour of South Africa

Overview: The 2021 British & Irish Lions squad

9 May 2021 0 comments

Warren Gatland has named his 2021 British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer, extending the size from its anticipated number of […]

Louis Rees-Zammit’s brother cashes in on Lions call-up

9 May 2021 0 comments

The older brother of the Gloucester & Wales flyer placed a bet four years ago that the Lions’ youngest squad member would tour South Africa

Victor Matfield fears Springboks may be caught short at lineout time

9 May 2021 0 comments

Legendary Springbok pairing Victor Matfield and Tendai Mtawarira speak to Daniel Gallan about the upcoming Lions series

2021 British & Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones

Alun Wyn Jones: We’ll have real siege mentality

9 May 2021 1 comment

“It’s surreal. I’ve always been fully aware of all those involved for the Lions, not just the captains”

Hask wasn’t a popular guy in Wales but he was fantastic craic on the 2017 tour – Biggar

9 May 2021 1 comment

DAN BIGGAR is prepared to give his British & Irish Lions squad mates the benefit of the doubt after misjudging a Marmite figure of English […]

I’m delighted, Sam Simmonds is built for Bok country says Dallaglio

9 May 2021 1 comment

There is no better No.8 playing in Europe right now, according to three-time Lion Lawrence Dallaglio

Townsend: Saracens five will be rejuvenated by Lions selections

9 May 2021 2 comments

Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly, Jamie George and Mako Vunipola were all included in Warren Gatland’s Lions squad

Lions squad announcement: Alun Wyn Jones to captain tourists

6 May 2021 2 comments

Wales captain and joint-most capped Test player Alun Wyn Jones selected as Lions captain by head coach Warren Gatland

Lions: Five dark horses for selection from the Premiership

4 May 2021 3 comments

Warren Gatland will make the big announcement on Thursday

All Blacks call for red card trial system to be made law

2 May 2021 1 comment

Brodie Retallick, Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara share their views on the new laws being trialled in Super Rugby and the Rainbow Cup

Lion king Cotton: Alun Wyn Jones for 2021 captaincy

2 May 2021 2 comments

The experience of Jones reigns above all other contenders for the Lions captaincy, says two-time tourist Fran Cotton

Springbok prop Vincent Koch backs his Sarries mates to step up

2 May 2021 1 comment

Vincent Koch believes Saracens will not be omitted from Warren Gatland’s Lions squad announcement this Thursday, after their relegation to the Championship

Wales and Ospreys wing George North to miss Lions tour of South Africa

‘Heartbroken’ George North learns his Lions dream is over

28 April 2021 0 comments

Ospreys wing George North likely to be out for the rest of 2021 with ruptured ACL injury, ending his British & Irish Lions hopes

Premiership Rugby and Lions reach agreement for clubs to release players

27 April 2021 0 comments

The Lions will play a warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield on June 26

Anxious wait for Ospreys wing and Lions hopeful George North

25 April 2021 0 comments

Wales wing George North hobbled off in Ospreys win over Cardiff Blues in the Rainbow Cup

Gloucester & Scotland centre Chris Harris

Chris Harris can go from Scotland’s defensive rock to Bok basher for Lions

18 April 2021 1 comment

The Gloucester centre starred in aways wins at Twickenham and the Stade de France for Scotland in the Six Nations – enough to earn a Lions place?

Lions leave space for Andy Farrell to join the tour

18 April 2021 0 comments

Just how desperate is Warren Gatland to have his former right-hand man on the plane to South Africa this summer?

George Ford needs roaring finish for shot at Lions tour

18 April 2021 1 comment

The England & Leicester fly-half talks to Paul Rees about his Lions chances resting with his form for Tigers in the Premiership finish

Lions will be motivated by pain of World Cup – McBryde

18 April 2021 0 comments

NEW British & Irish Lions forwards coach Robin McBryde says his team can use the hurt of Wales’ and England’s 2019 World Cup defeats […]

Lions face six weeks in just one city bubble

11 April 2021 1 comment

THE Lions may be forced to spend virtually their entire six weeks in South Africa confined to the same bio-secure bubble in the same city. […]

Evaluating how ready the Springboks are for the Lions

11 April 2021 0 comments

NICK CAIN EVALUATES THE SPRINGBOKS PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING LIONS SERIES WHEN Faf de Klerk was buried by a brutal Jake Ball tackle in Llanelli last […]

Leonard: Boks will be brutal in warm-ups

4 April 2021 0 comments

British & Irish Lions chairman Jason Leonard ponders how the Springboks may prepare for the arrival of Warren Gatland’s side this summer

British & Irish Lions issue fans guidance

British & Irish Lions offer next steps to fans hoping to travel to South Africa

1 April 2021 1 comment

The Lions outline four options for fans who have secured packages with them for this summer’s tour of South Africa, including a full refund

2021 British & Irish Lions tour will take place in South Africa, not UK

23 March 2021 0 comments

A major development for the Springboks’ desire to host the Lions on home soil

Looks like it’s UK this summer for the Lions

28 February 2021 3 comments

THE Lions are finalising plans for a groundbreaking British and Irish tour this summer which could run to as many as eight matches. A final […]

Head coach Warren Gatland explores British & Irish Lions base on Jersey

27 February 2021 1 comment

The state of the art facility Gatland has surveyed this week that could suggest the Lions tour will be held in the UK and Ireland

Jack Nowell on the comeback trail for Exeter after ninth operation

26 February 2021 0 comments

The Chiefs wing is set to return to action for Exeter next month and is not short of achievements he wants to attain in 2021

Lockdown exit reveal raises prospect of British & Irish Lions ‘home tour’

23 February 2021 1 comment

The British & Irish Lions are seeking an insurance from the UK government as part of their contingency to host the Springboks in Britain and Ireland

British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa 2021

Relocating the tour to Australia tour will raise £10m for British & Irish Lions

21 February 2021 2 comments

THE Wallabies are prepared to reinforce their British & Irish Lions offer by making the summer tour pay to the tune of up to […]

Nick Mallett calls for Lions tour to be delayed until 2022

11 February 2021 0 comments

The former South Africa head coach and outspoken TV pundit says SA Rugby need to ‘push hard’ for a delay to 2022

Rugby Australia tell Lions: Play Springboks down here

31 January 2021 2 comments

A new option becomes available for the British & Irish Lions and SA Rugby to play the 2021 tour in Australia, as Rugby Australia offer their helping hand