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British and Irish Lions to face Japan in rare home clash ahead of South Africa tour

AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images

The British and Irish Lions will, ahead of next summer's tour of South Africa, play a match on home soil for only the third time in history with Japan the opponents in Scotland.

The Lions will take on Japan at BT Murrayfield Stadium in a Test match on June 26 for the Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup, before heading to South Africa for an eight-game tour which culminates in a three-Test series against Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks.

The clash at Murrayfield will be the Lions’ first ever encounter with Japan and also only the third time they have played on home soil.

Those previous two games happened in Cardiff, with the Lions taking on Argentina in 2005 and a Rest of the World XV in 1986.

“One of our objectives is to give Warren and the playing squad as much meaningful preparation as possible before departing on Tour, so we are delighted to have agreed this fixture,” said Ben Calveley, managing director of The British & Irish Lions.

“A Lions Test is one of the most iconic events in world sport, but a huge number of fans from the Home Nations never get the chance to see one live. The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup match will give even more supporters the opportunity to be part of the next chapter in Lions history.

“It will be an ‘I was there’ moment, against an entertaining and highly-respected opposition.”

The Lions’ tour next year, which is due to take place in July and August after being shifted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been shortened compared to previous ones as the rugby calendar continues to become even more congested.

Indeed this Test with Japan clashes with the Premiership final on June 26 at Twickenham and means some players could be unavailable to play.

The length of the Lions’ tour has already been cut to fit it into the rugby calendar and when they travelled to New Zealand in 2017 they played 10 matches, but they will have eight in South Africa this year.

As a result, this game in Scotland against Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists Japan is a boost for head coach Warren Gatland and provides players with another chance to prove they should start against South Africa in the first Test on July 24 in Johannesburg.

The second Test follows on July 31 at the Cape Town Stadium – the first Lions Test there since 1997 – before the tourists return to Gauteng for the final clash on August 7 at Emirates Airline Park, the famous venue of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.

“We saw Japan play some excellent rugby during the World Cup and they will come to Edinburgh fully-motivated to win,” said Gatland.

“They are a talented side who play high-tempo rugby, so it’ll be a good challenge for us ahead of the tour, and a chance for the match day squad to put their hands up for Test selection.”

Tickets for the match with Japan go on sale next month and the Scottish Rugby Union will hope to sell out the 67,000-seater Murrayfield.

“The deep connection Scotland enjoys with the British & Irish Lions has helped to shape the rich history of the team with players, coaches and support staff all contributing to the success of the side down the years,” said SRU chief executive Dodson.

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