British and Irish Lions 2017: When is the first Test vs the All Blacks, what time do the matches start, fixtures and results
Everything you need to know about the Lions vs All Blacks Test series
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The British and Irish Lions will face the All Blacks for the first time in 12 years this month when the two sides collide at Eden Park in Auckland in what will be the first of three Tests, with the Lions looking to avenge their 3-0 whitewash in 2005.
Having embarked on a 10-match tour of New Zealand, Warren Gatland’s side have ensured that they will be fully prepared when they meet the reigning world champions, having lined up all five of the New Zealand Super Rugby teams as part of their warm-up plans.
As well as those five sides, the Lions have played the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians and the Maori All Blacks, and while they look on course to be ready for the first Test, the tour has not gone without its hiccups along the way.
Two warm-up defeats have seen the Lions receive a fair level of criticism in New Zealand, but they have also won their two hardest matches against the Crusaders and the Maori, and given it looked like Gatland selected close to his Test team for those games, there is optimism that they will prove a worthy opponent for the All Blacks.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Lions tour of New Zealand.
Fixtures and results:
New Zealand Provincial Barbarians 7-13 British and Irish Lions, Toll Stadium, 3 June.
Blues 22-16 British and Irish Lions, Eden Park, 7 June.
Crusaders 3-12 British and Irish Lions, AMI Stadium, 10 June.
Highlanders 23-22 British and Irish Lions, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 13 June.
Maori All Blacks 10-32 British and Irish Lions, Rotorua International Stadium, 17 June.
Chiefs 6-34 British and Irish Lions, Waikato Stadium, 20 June.
New Zealand vs British and Irish Lions first Test, Eden Park, 24 June. Kick-off: 8:35am GMT
Hurricanes vs British and Irish Lions, Westpac Stadium, 27 June. Kick-off: 8:35am GMT
New Zealand vs British and Irish Lions, second Test, Westpac Stadium, 1 July. Kick-off: 8:35am GMT
New Zealand vs British and Irish Lions, third Test, Eden Park, 8 July. Kick-off: 8:35am GMT
Lions squad:
Props: Mako Vuniola, Joe Marler, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Kyle Sinckler, Dan Cole, Allan Dell*, Tomas Francis*.
Hookers: Jamie George, Ken Owens, Rory Best, Kristian Dacey*.
Locks: George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Iain Henderson, Courtney Lawes, Cory Hill*.
Flankers: Peter O’Mahony, James Haskell, Sam Warburton, Sean O’Brien, Justin Tipuric.
No 8s: Taulupe Faletau, CJ Stander.
Scrum-halves: Conor Murray, Rhys Webb, Greig Laidlaw, Gareth Davies*.
Fly-halves: Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar, Finn Russell*.
Centres: Ben Te’o, Robbie Henshaw, Jonathan Davies, Jonathan Joseph.
Wings: George North, Elliot Daly, Liam Williams, Anthony Watson, Jack Nowell.
Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny, Jared Payne.
(* denotes player call-ups)
New Zealand squad:
Props: Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Samuel Whitelock.
Back-row: Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire.
Scrum-halves: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith.
Fly-halves: Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga.
Centres: Ryan Crotty, Ngani Laumapa, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams.
Back three: Jordie Barrett, Israel Dagg, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.
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