Lions add Auckland match to their schedule

The British and Irish Lions have added an extra match to their New Zealand itinerary next summer.

Lions Chief Executive John Feehan said: “This is something that both ourselves and the NZRU have been discussing for some time. The game provides the Lions with a tough clash prior to the third Test and gives not only the New Zealand public but the countless Lions tourists another opportunity to see the Lions in action.”

Coming as it does in the last week of the tour, it will give a focus to those that are not selected for the Test side. Previous tours have suffered somewhat from disenchantment amongst the so-called ‘dirt trackers’ as the tour comes to a close and they get marginalised.

Given that Auckland have won the NPC Championship for the past two years, this will be a significant test for the tourists second string. That said, they are currently struggling third from bottom of the league this season, having lost three of their first four outings.

Revised Lions itinerary for 2005 New Zealand tour:>br>
June 4 v Bay of Plenty, Rotorua
June 8 v Taranaki, New Plymouth
June 11 v New Zealand Maori, tba
June 15 v Wellington, Wellington
June 18 v Otago, Dunedin
June 21 v Southland, Invercargill
June 25 First test, Christchurch
June 28 v Manawatu, Palmerston North
July 2 Second test, Wellington
July 5 v Auckland, Auckland
July 9 Third test, Auckland