British & Irish Lions Manager Andy Irvine announced Monday, November 28 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff the 10-match tour schedule for the highly anticipated tour to Australia in 2013.

The British & Irish Lions and the Australian Rugby Union have agreed a programme of nine matches for the Tour in Australia, including three Test matches. The Lions will also play a first-time match in Hong Kong against the famous Barbarians Club on their way to Australia.

Commenting on the Lions 2013 schedule, Tour Manager Andy Irvine said, “The Lions receive numerous requests to play matches around the world outside of the traditional tour destinations of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. For 2013 we had the perfect opportunity to play a match in the developing rugby region of Asia, while at the same time break the long journey from Europe to Australia. As has become customary we also wanted 10 matches to maximize the essential pre-Test series build up.”

The last tour by the Lions to Australia was in 2001, when the Lions played 10 matches including three Tests. They won seven matches, including the First Test against the Wallabies, and lost three. These defeats were against Australia A and the Wallabies in the Second and Third Tests. The vital Third Test was won by the Wallabies 16–13 at Stadium Australia, Sydney, in front of a crowd of 84,188 to clinch the series.

Fans can now guarantee their place on the Lions Tour with Lions Rugby Travel, the official travel company of the British & Irish Lions (http://www.lionstour.com). The official Lions travel company will offer fans an unprecedented range of official ticket inclusive packages from fully escorted tours through to return international flights and match ticket options.

British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2013