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British & Irish Lions

Lions coverage returns to British terrestrial TV for first time since 1993

By Sam Smith

12 May 2021

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Live coverage of the British and Irish Lions will return to terrestrial television in Britain for the first time in nearly 30 years with Channel 4’s broadcast of the June 26 1888 Cup against Japan at Murrayfield.

In addition to live coverage of the pre-tour Test match against the Japanese, Channel 4 will also show highlights of all three Tests against South Africa.

While Sky Sports will broadcast all eight games in South Africa live, this will be the first time the Lions have been on terrestrial television since the 1993 tour of New Zealand and highlights of all Castle Lager Lions series tour matches will be shown on All4.

The crazy reaction on the RugbyPass Fanzone to the 2021 Lions squad announcement

The Lions is the latest coup for Channel 4 Sport which earlier this year brought free-to-air live Test cricket back to television screens after a 16-year break with its coverage of England’s tour in India.

British and Irish Lions managing director Ben Calveley said: “We are delighted that Channel 4 are our broadcast partners for our first match on home soil since 2005. I’m looking forward to the excellent coverage and analysis that Channel 4 will no doubt provide and going on the recent squad announcement I’m sure the interest and numbers tuning in will be considerable for this clash.”

The exclusion of Sinckler from the Lions resulted in the Bristol boss seeing his prop react to adversity in a very inspiring way#BATvBRI #LionsRugby #Lions2021 https://t.co/HXWTa2eze1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 12, 2021

Pete Andrews, Channel 4’s head of sport, added: “This is set to be a mouth-watering contest with Alun Wyn Jones leading the Lions against the reigning world champions. It’s fantastic news for rugby fans who will relish the opportunity of seeing the British and Irish Lions in action on free-to-air television.”

Presented by Lee McKenzie, the Lions matches are the latest addition to Channel 4’s rugby portfolio which includes live coverage of the Heineken Champions Cup final between La Rochelle and Toulouse on May 22 and live coverage of Ireland’s autumn internationals against the All Blacks and Argentina.

Super Rugby Trans-Tasman is here! ?
Tournament kicks off this Friday, featuring the best sides in New Zealand and Australia ?
Every match live on RugbyPass ?
Get 15% off with our special Earlybird offer.
Sign up now!?? – https://t.co/oiOYl3Sexh pic.twitter.com/EeEHPzLUpc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 12, 2021

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 16 minutes ago

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

Uhh, he was playing inside centre?

Do you understand the role of a 12?

2 Go to comments

Bull Shark 23 minutes ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

"aside from winning RWCs and playing some really good rugby?"

What a doos.

11 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 26 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Well if you’re correct in that assertion then it blows up all of the numbers in the original post that came from, do you recognise the overall number or even the 300k residual for senior male player numbers in SA?

Tbf, even 300k senior players is an impressive resource, particularly if there is a residual of untapped school talent that could be developed if required and resources allow.

174 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 46 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Now that is a slam dunk response right there!!!

174 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 48 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I’d say SA continuation is pretty much a slam dunk. They have brought much to the table in the URC with revenue growth, fan engagement and player enjoyment - yes, this is a factor too! On top of that there is still much headroom for further growth, both in the URC and especially with EPCR. The only resistance to SA teams comes from the English at present, mainly because they can’t win the CC any longer and their clubs are in real financial shit, but their recent overtures were firmly rejected.

I can only see great things on the horizon for SA inclusion in the URC and EPCR, if the right format adjustments are made. But if they are, then further success will follow and there is a strong likelihood that 6N becomes 7N as well.

174 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 59 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Great post and spot on in your analysis about generations to develop African rugby. There’s a strong argument to say that pursuing the successful URC path they’re already on and getting the EPCR comps to do similar will provide a role model for African countries AND fund SA activities, such as the development tours to Arg you mention, to help grow African rugby in parallel.

174 Go to comments

DH 1 hour ago

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu suffers new injury setback

That's twice he has tried to run at forwards and got his butt kicked. This isn't school boy rugby anymore. Give the ball to the forwards to take up and manage your runners outside of you. Ask Pollard for advice on how, if you don't understand

2 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Pure fantasy JW.

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Yes that comment bewildered me too! The Rand in bad shape.

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

“I think if you asked me that question maybe three years ago or when I first left Australia, I had so much, I suppose, animosity or professional anger inside of me just because I felt like maybe my talent really wasn’t looked after in Australia.

“But to be honest now I feel like I am where I’m supposed to be, like here in Scotland. And I feel like all those things that happened early in my career were meant to happen because now I’m sitting here talking to you guys in the position that I am.”

From the horse's mouth. It's a better rugby destination.

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

That's a bit of a "NZ" only problem, because those players need to reach such a high standard to be chosen by the All Blacks, were as a country like Ireland wants them a lot earlier like that.

Nah. Ireland had to put in a lot of work on guys like JGP and Lowey to get them to the standard expected. There were areas of their game that were sub-par when they first came over from NZ.

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

They don't go for money, but for lifestyle, and NZ uses PI's a resource like everyone else. They don't belong to you.

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Well I'm happy for it to go on until it naturally stops tbh.

Who on earth fo you think you represent JW?🤣

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

James Lowe is a great example. He may have some Irish ancestors, but he was born, raised, and developed in NZ, and for all intents and purposes is a Kiwi. However, when he was ignored by selectors, he moved to Ireland and only had to wait 5 years before he could play for a different nation. If thats not ridiculous, I don't know what is.

On very thin ice there. I can still recall Frank Bunce , Alama Ieremia, Tuigamala and the Bachops playing for both PI's and NZ in their Test careers! They were interchangeable.

Most guys at this level now are multi-qualified.

And much of Lowe's development as a player occurred at Leinster, so why wouldn't Ireland profit from it?

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

One of OJohn's Kiwi coaching 'moles'!

174 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Stop talking nonsense JW.

174 Go to comments