LONDON – The British and Irish Lions have caused a stir overnight after announcing two of the three test matches of their 2017 tour to New Zealand will be played at Auckland’s Eden Park.
It’s not particularly surprising considering the expansion of Eden Park allows over 50,000 people in the ground in the ground allowing for maximum revenue streams, however is a telling blow for other stadiums and provinces in New Zealand as well as the crowds hoping to get a look at the Lions on their tour.
In addition to the two tests at Eden Park, the Lions will also play the All Blacks at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium. On the 10 match tour to New Zealand, they will face all five Super Rugby franchises at their respective home grounds as well as one of the provincial unions in Whangarei, north of Auckland.
Despite not winning in New Zealand in 44 years, the British and Irish Lions will be buoyed by their convincing series win against the Wallabies in 2013 though the team sheet will inevitably be very different from the one that recorded 2-1 series victory in Australia.
2017 British and Irish Lions tour fixtures:
3 June – Provincial union team (Toll Stadium, Whangarei)
7 June – Blues (Eden Park, Auckland)
10 June – Crusaders (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
13 June – Highlanders (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
17 June – Maori (International Stadium, Rotorua)
20 June – Chiefs (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
24 June – New Zealand (First Test, Eden Park, Auckland)
27 June – Hurricanes (Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
1 July – New Zealand (Second Test, Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
8 July – New Zealand (Third Test, Eden Park, Auckland).