British And Irish Lions Tour South Africa 2009
Fixtures and Venues for 2009 Lions Tour of South Africa
Mar 26, 2009
The British and Irish Lions tour South Africa in the summer of 2009 for the first time in twelve years. The home side are regarded as a powerhouse in world rugby and will provide a stern challenge to the tourists. The three test series will be keenly followed in the home country and also around the rugby playing world.
Fixtures Lions Tour 2009
30 May - Highveld at Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg 14.00
3 June - Golden Lions at Ellis Park, Johannesburg 14.00
6 June - Cheetahs at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein 14.00
10 June - Sharks at ABSA Park, Durban 18.10
13 June - Western Province at Newlands, Cape Town 14.00
16 June - Coastal XV at Nelson Mandela Stadium, Port Eliz. 14.00
20 June - South Africa at ABSA Park, Durban 14.00 (1st Test)
23 June - Emerging Springboks at Newlands, Cape Town 18.10
27 June - South Africa at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 14.00 (2nd Test)
4 July - South Africa at Ellis Park, Johannesburg 14.00 (3rd Test)
Kick off times British Summer Time (BST)
Venues Lions Tour 2009
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg - Capacity: 60,000. Venue of the 1995 World Cup Final, which saw South Africa defeat New Zealand by 15 points to12.
Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg - Capacity: 38,000. Named after the Royal Bafokeng Nation in the North West Province of South Africa.
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein - Capacity: 36,500. Home to the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and the Cheetahs in the Super 14 tournament.
ABSA Stadium, Durban - Capacity: 52,000. Renovated in 1990 and home ground of the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup and the Sharks in the Super 14.
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town - Capacity: 51,000. Western Province play their Currie Cup home games here as do The Stormers when competing in the Super 14.
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth - Capacity: 50,000. Built for the 2010 Football World Cup, it is scheduled to be complete by the start of the Lions tour.
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Capacity: 45,000. Often updated throughout its history, the current stadium was finished in 1984.
1997 Lions Tour of South Africa
The British and Irish Lions last toured South Africa in 1997, their first visit since 1980. With the end of apartheid, the tour gained heightened significance with the home side seen as strong favourites in the three match series.
The Lions started their campaign well, building momentum with a series of victories over provincial sides in preparation for the first test. A comprehensive defeat of Natal brought the visitors respect from their hosts but they were seen as underdogs for the first Test played at Newlands.
Although dominating possession during the opening Test, the South Africans were unable to pull away from a dogged Lions outfit. A tight game was decided when Lions scrumhalf Matt Dawson scored a late try to see the visitors triumph 25-16.
Durban hosted the second Test and the home side were even more dominant in terms of territory and possession but failed to land single kick at goal, a lapse that would prove fatal to their hopes of levelling the series. Again the Lions proved resilient in defence and 15 points from fullback Neil Jenkins coupled with a Jeremy Guscott drop-goal gave them an unlikely 18-15 victory.
With an impregnable 2-0 series lead, the Lions headed to Ellis Park in search of a hat trick of wins. It proved a bridge too far for an exhausted side and they fell to a 35-16 defeat to provide their hosts with a consolation victory.
Despite this final defeat, the tour was a resounding success with the Lions recording 11 victories from their 13 games.
The British And Irish Lions Tour Of South Africa 2009
Always a highly charged and physically demanding contest, the 2009 series is awaited with great expectation. As in 1997, the home side will be regarded as strong favourites but the Lions can never be underestimated and the matches will undoubtedly provide a thrilling spectacle of top class rugby.
References
BBC Sport
Lions Rugby
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