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Australian Rugby Union today confirmed Perth will host the opening match of the tour when the British and Irish Lions make their long-awaited return to Australia in 2013.
The Lions – selected from the best players in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – visit Australia only once every 12 years, and will reignite a rivalry that exploded in 2001 when the Wallabies won a thrilling and sold-out series by two Tests to one.
On the 2013 Tour, the Lions will play nine matches in six cities around Australia, with one set down for Perth under a long-term deal between the ARU and the State Government through Eventscorp.
The Lions will play the Western Force in Perth on Wednesday, 5 June, with a venue still to be determined for the match.
Three days after taking on the Force, the Lions will play the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
While the tour opens in Perth, it will run a further five weeks before concluding with the Third Test in Sydney on Saturday, 6 July.
The First Test will be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, 22 June, and the Second Test at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, 29 June.
“The Lions tour here in 2001 was an extraordinary event and one which provided significant economic benefit to those cities which hosted major matches,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill AO.
“More than 8000 Lions supporters came to Australia from the UK and Ireland on official tour packages and many more thousands made their own way here.
“Four years ago in South Africa there were said to be 40,000 Lions fans that made the trek there to support their team.
“A Lions Tour is a massive occasion. Behind the Rugby World Cup it is the most engaging, high-profile and popular event our game can showcase.
“It is not just about the three Tests. It is about the hype and momentum a tour of six weeks develops.
“Back in 2001, the feature of the First Test was the seas of Red as the Lions fans dressed en masse in the team’s colours to show their support.
“It was a wonderful time and an unforgettable tour and 2013 promises to be even bigger and better.
“The tradition and history of the Lions continues with every tour they embark on to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
“The Lions tour only once every four years, so they visit the big three Southern Hemisphere nations only once every 12 years.
“We’re delighted to bring one of those nine Lions tour matches to Perth in two years’ time. When the Lions were last here in 2001, the Western Force was not even in contemplation.
“Our game has evolved and grown significantly since that tour of a decade ago and, as in 2001, we expect demand for Lions tickets to be extraordinarily high. It will be a tour not to miss.”
Before arriving in Australia for their nine-match Tour, the Lions will kick off their campaign with a match in Hong Kong against the Barbarians on Saturday, 1 June.
The full Lions Tour schedule is:
DATE MATCH CITY
Wednesday, 5 June Lions v Western Force Perth
Saturday, 8 June Lions v Queensland Reds Brisbane
Wednesday, 12 June Lions v Combined NSW-Qld Country Newcastle
Saturday, 15 June Lions v NSW Waratahs Sydney
Tuesday, 18 June Lions v Brumbies Canberra
Saturday, 22 June LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Brisbane
Tuesday, 25 June Lions v Melbourne Rebels Melbourne
Saturday, 29 June LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Melbourne
Saturday, 6 July LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Sydney
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
So long as members get first crack at the tickets no one will have to get hurt!
please tell me its @ NIB and not Subi ?
Yes okay 8,000 British fans came over in 2001, thats when unemployment wasn't an issue and now the pound has fallen out.. be lucky to see 800 from Britian come over the other 7,300 will be the expats.
Force Members access 1st, then Australian members, then G.A.
I'd wager it will be at Subiaco, they will want to screw every last dollar and pound out of the opportunity.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
So by looking at the draw it seems that the best Lions team would play all the saturday matches, eg the two games against the reds and waratahs before the tests and we will get the midweek team. But then again, who cares, it is the Lions and a midweek team would still be top quality
Was at the WACA last time. It may be at NIB as the new grandstand should be in place by then.... shouldn't it?
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
how many players tour?
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
There was no Western Force back in 2001 either - I'd be surprised if it's not played at Subi.
Venues below. But these are from the "we love rugby" tour operators
Combined QLD & NSW Country v Lions – OzGrid Stadium, Newcastle
QLD Reds v Lions – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Western Force v Lions – Paterson Stadium, Perth
NSW Waratahs v Lions – Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
ACT Brumbies v Lions – Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Melbourne Rebels v Lions – AAMI Park, Melbourne
Qantas Wallabies v Lions – 1st Test – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Qantas Wallabies v Lions – 2nd Test – Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Qantas Wallabies v Lions – 3rd Test – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Please enlighten me, where is Paterson Stadium?
Got to love the 'member profiles', have a look...
http://www.dunsboroughdungbeetles.com/ Don't seem to have a webpage anymore so go to https://www.facebook.com/Dunsborough...tlesRugbyClub/
Subiaco
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Never Mind i googled it.
Got to love the 'member profiles', have a look...
http://www.dunsboroughdungbeetles.com/ Don't seem to have a webpage anymore so go to https://www.facebook.com/Dunsborough...tlesRugbyClub/
Thanks Burgs
Got to love the 'member profiles', have a look...
http://www.dunsboroughdungbeetles.com/ Don't seem to have a webpage anymore so go to https://www.facebook.com/Dunsborough...tlesRugbyClub/