Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Sky Sports The Lions to be the home of the British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa

28/06/2021

Sky Sports to show all eight matches of The Lions Tour of South Africa live and launch dedicated pop-up channel on 17th July to 10th August

Sky Sports The Lions': 24 days of non-stop coverage for the British & Irish Lions Test matches against South Africa. Including exclusive live coverage, highlights, documentaries, and archive footage

The pop-up channel will feature the Lions Breakfast Show on Sunday mornings, taking a look back at the previous day's events, paper talk and more

With the famous Sea of Red unable to be in South Africa, The Sky Sports Fan Van brought to you by Laithwaites will tour across the UK to get the fans' view

Latest news from the Lions Tour on Sky Sports News, as well as Sky Sports' digital and social media channels

Sky Sports has announced a jam-packed schedule of programming for its coverage of the British & Irish Lions 2021 Castle Lager Series in South Africa - complete with archive footage, documentaries and exclusive behind the scenes content available in addition to five Lions warm-up games and of course the three Test matches.

Sky Sports The Lions will be the home of the British & Irish Lions 2021 Castle Lager Series in South Africa. The pop-up channel - available on Sky and NOW - will provide round the clock coverage of the tour for 24 days of coverage as Warren Gatland's squad take on the World Champions.

Rugby fans will be able to watch a total of eight live games from the tour, kicking off with the first warm-up game against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg on 3rd July. On the 2nd of July, Sky Sports and NOW viewers will be able to see the Lions' opposition in action as South Africa take on Georgia in a warm-up game for the hosts.

Replacing Sky Sports Action from Saturday 17th July until 10th August, the new pop-up channel will be the place to take in the final warm-up game for the Lions against DHL Stormers before the three Test matches get underway. Rugby fans will of course be able to watch the preceding four warm-up games in South Africa live on Sky Sports Action until the pop-up channel launches on 17th July.

There will be a star-studded line-up to guide viewers throughout the tour. Host Alex Payne will be joined by legends of the game including former Lions and Wales captain Sam Warburton, Ireland's leading points-scorer Ronan O'Gara as well as England's World Cup winners Will Greenwood and Maggie Alphonsi. Four-time Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan and Nigel Owens - the highest capped referee of all time - will also add their expert insight and analysis from the studio, Reporter Sarra Elgan will be on the ground in South Africa with former South Africa winger Bryan Habana. Conor McNamara will provide the commentary for every match of the Tour to complete the Sky Sports line-up.

With the series being played behind closed doors meaning that the iconic Lions supporters will be unable to travel to South Africa, former Lions legend Scott Quinnell will be Sky Sports' roving reporter from the Sky Sports Fan Van brought to you by Laithwaites as he travels the length and breadth of the UK to hear the stories of fans and ex-players cheering on the touring side from the UK. Lions fans can look forward to daily content across social media as well as live broadcasts from pubs and rugby clubs across the country.

The coverage of the Lions tour will include an hour of build-up and post-match analysis, increasing to 90 minutes of build-up for the Test matches. In addition, following the launch of the pop-up channel, rugby fans can enjoy a leisurely start to Sundays, as they take in the Lions Breakfast Show - a look back at events from the previous day's matches, dissecting newspaper analysis, and much more.

What's more, Sky Sports and NOW customers will have access to Chasing The Sun - a five episode documentary on Springbok rugby that looks into themes on and off the pitch, and culminating with South Africa captain Siya Kolisi lifting the 2019 World Cup. And if that isn't enough Lions content, Will Greenwood's podcast will feature throughout the tour - featuring special guests including Gregor Townsend and South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber - which will be available to listen on skysports.com and other podcast platforms.

Sky Sports Managing Director, Jonathan Licht said: We're thrilled to be working with the British & Irish Lions to bring our viewers a seventh consecutive Lions tour - a partnership that has now entered its 25th year - and we're looking forward to seeing some thrilling rugby played in South Africa against the current World Champions. With fans unable to cheer on the Lions in person, we're pleased to be able to bring the best of the action to the Sea of Red back home.

The Lions Tour of South Africa adds to an already busy line-up of sport on Sky Sports this summer. Cricket's newest format, The Hundred gets underway on 21st July, while England welcome Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India for international cricket this summer. Golf sees The Open take place at Royal St. Georges from 15th July. As well as that, Sky Sports is the home of domestic football with the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership being joined for the first time by the FA Women's Super League. On top of that, Anthony Joshua is scheduled to face Alexandr Usyk in September live on Sky Sports Box Office and much, much more!

About Sky

Sky is Europe's leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Across six countries, we connect our 23.4 million customers to the best entertainment, sports, news and arts including our own award-winning original content.

Our technology, including the market leading Sky Q, connects people to everything they love - with entertainment from Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer, and apps like Sp
LINK: https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-sports-the-lions-to-be-the-...
See more stories from sky

More from BskyB

03/01/2023

Sky Sports announces new rights deal with the SA20 cricket league

Today, Sky Sports announces a new 5-year rights deal within their cricket portfolio, with the new South Africa T20 cricket league. Beginning on the 10th of Jan...

30/12/2022

Phil Edgar-Jones Awarded OBE in New Year Honours List

Sky is delighted to announce Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment, has been awarded an OBE for service to the Arts and Television in the 202...

23/12/2022

Children to front a Sky Sports Premier League broadcast for the first time

For the first time ever, Sky Sports is inviting four young football fans to step in front of the cameras and give viewers at home a special presentation of Prem...

19/12/2022

The Premier League returns to Sky Sports on Friday 30th December

After four weeks with no Premier League action, there's not long to wait until it's back on Sky Sports. One person in particular has been at a loss whi...

16/12/2022

Sky News named News Provider of the Year at The British Journalism Awards

At last night's coveted British Journalism Awards, Sky News walked away with the honour of News Provider of the Year, after having an exceptional year focus...

15/12/2022

US Open Tennis Championships returning to Sky Sports from 2023

Sky Sports has today announced a new five-year partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for the US Open Championships, welcoming tennis back...

14/12/2022

Sky awards seven figure contract to local business, JPA Workspaces

Nearly 10,000 pieces of furniture will be sourced, delivered and installed at Sky Studios Elstree by local supplier, JPA Workspaces, in one of the largest local...

14/12/2022

Keeping you connected: our promise to customers

Stephen van Rooyen, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, UK & Europe Sky provides connectivity our customers can count on through our Talk, Broa...

13/12/2022

Imelda May to present Sky Arts Christmas special

Sky & Red Shoe Productions present Christmas in Ireland with Imelda May and Friends' - a one-hour special broadcast on December 24th hosted by Imelda May ...

09/12/2022

Bringing you closer to the people you love this Christmas with free data, calls, festive films & six months' Apple TV+ for Sky customers

Christmas is just around the corner, and to say thank you to its customers, Sky ...

07/12/2022

Sky Arts takes a trip across the UK with eighth series of Landscape Artist of the Year

The new series will air on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW on 11th January 2023 Decem...

07/12/2022

Katherine Butler and Adrian Sturges join Sky Studios Drama team

Sky Studios, Sky's original programming arm across Europe, today announces two new appointments to its drama team as the Studio targets a significant increa...

07/12/2022

Brand new Sky Kids Original Silly Pets narrated by Alan Carr on screen this December alongside a line-up of kids Christmas specials

A never seen before Original series, Silly Pets (5 , 9 December), narrated by pr...

06/12/2022

F1's Jackie Stewart shares his personal story exclusively on Sky Documentaries & NOW

STEWART debuts on Sky Documentaries & NOW on Friday 30 December. This immersive ...

03/12/2022

Trailer released for The Last of Us available 16 January exclusively on Sky Atlantic and NOW

Sky reveals the trailer for the highly anticipated series, The Last of Us, which...

02/12/2022

The spirit of Christmas giving: 8 in 10 Brits set to show kindness this festive season through generous time, money and gift donations

A Nation of Givers: A heart-warming 86% of Brits will be giving back to others t...

02/12/2022

New Sky News documentary with Alex Crawford exploring women's rights in Afghanistan to air next week

The first film in a new three-part Sky News documentary series with special corr...

29/11/2022

Sky Unveils Trailer For New Sky Original Predators Narrated By Tom Hardy

Images available on SEAC Sky reveals a first-look trailer for the upcoming release of Sky Nature's brand new Sky Original series Predators. Narrated by act...

28/11/2022

Sky Studios and Birmingham Rep announce eight finalists for new comedy talent scheme: Sky Comedy Rep

The partnership, now in its second year, aims to discover and develop new comedy...

24/11/2022

Brits are 260 million out of pocket every month due to unused mobile phone data

Comes as Sky Mobile hits three million customers - now the fastest-growing mobile provider in the UK* Sky Mobile calls on Brits to check their mobile contracts...

24/11/2022

Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport opens Sky's new Innovation Centre

Secretary of State welcomes Sky's contribution to the UK's cultural econ...

23/11/2022

Documentaries from local Elstree students receive premiere at Sky's European headquarters

Event was the culmination of an 18-month partnership between Sky Studios Elstree...

22/11/2022

Sky to launch brand new 24-hour ad-free Sky Kids channel packed with a standout slate of Sky Originals and franchise favourites

New ad-free Sky Kids linear channel unveiled to complement children's busy r...

21/11/2022

Sky and Peter McVerry Trust partner to tackle digital inequality

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, joined Sky Ireland today to launch the first Sky Up Digital Hub in Ireland at a Peter McVerry Trust young persons ser...

18/11/2022

Sky opens new shop at iconic Bullring in Birmingham

Sky, one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, has unveiled a new shop in Birmingham. This will be Sky's first bricks and mortar shop i...

17/11/2022

Romesh Ranganathan & Katherine Ryan couple up for a Romantic Getaway like no other, coming to Sky Comedy and NOW on 1 January

Romesh Ranganathan and Katherine Ryan join forces for brand-new high-octane Sky ...

17/11/2022

Romesh Ranganathan & Katherine Ryan couple up for a Romantic Getaway like no other, coming to Sky Max and NOW on 1 January

Romesh Ranganathan and Katherine Ryan join forces for brand-new high-octane Sky ...

15/11/2022

Pocket change: Say goodbye to cash as children ask for extra screen time, sweet treats, and in-game purchases in new pocket money trend

The great rewards swap: 84% of British parents are turning to different types of...

14/11/2022

Sky releases neon-soaked teaser for upcoming original series A Town Called Malice

Watch the new teaser trailer HERE First look images can be found on SEAC About...

14/11/2022

Branson doc available from December exclusively on Sky documentaries and NOW

The four-part docuseries BRANSON, directed by Chris Smith (100 Foot Wave), debuts in the UK on Sunday 4 December on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW....

11/11/2022

Sky opens first ever shop in Northern Ireland

Sky, one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, has unveiled a new shop in Belfast. This will be Sky's first bricks and mortar shop in N...

10/11/2022

Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford wins Journalist of the Year - Broadcast at the Society of Editors' Media Freedom awards

Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford scooped the Broadcast Journalist of...

10/11/2022

Sky & Channel 4 strike deal to make England's ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final available to all

England's match versus Pakistan on Sunday (13.11.22) will be available to al...

08/11/2022

Streaming Service NOW Expands Across Android TV OS

From today, streaming service NOW will be available on Google TV devices, including Chromecast with Google TV and eight of the UK's biggest smart TV brands...

04/11/2022

Sky News' Big Ideas Live returns with its specialists to ask Who Owns the Future?'

Reaching more than 100 million people every month across TV, digital, social and...

03/11/2022

Sky and Peacock commission original drama series based on The Day of the Jackal from Universal International Studios' Carnival Films

Sky and Peacock today announce a new original television series inspired by Fred...

03/11/2022

Sky announces new Lockerbie Documentary

Sky announces today that it is about to start filming for upcoming new Sky original documentary Lockerbie. The 3-part series, has begun production and is produc...

02/11/2022

Production begins on the third series of high-stakes Sky Original drama COBRA

Robert Carlyle returns as Prime Minister and Victoria Hamilton is back as Chief of Staff Anna Marshall. Jane Horrocks joins the cast as Defence Secretary...

02/11/2022

Sky announces new tech grants to support young people get online when leaving the care system

Sky is today announcing the roll-out of its Sky Up Tech Grants initiative with a...

02/11/2022

Nearly half (43%) of children claim that climate change is the biggest issue the world is facing right now, research by Sky Kids reveals

Only 10% of children think the government are doing enough to combat climate cha...

02/11/2022

The Last of Us available exclusively 16 January on Sky Atlantic and NOW

Today Sky announced the highly anticipated series, The Last of Us, will air exclusively on Sky Atlantic and NOW on 16 January. The nine-episode series also teas...

01/11/2022

First look trailer for Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything coming to Sky Comedy and NOW from 7 December

The official trailer for upcoming Sky Original, Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything...

28/10/2022

The Ghost of Richard Harris available on Sky Arts from 19 November

The Ghost of Richard Harris will launch on Sky Arts on November 19. Directed by Adrian Sibley, this candid Sky Original documentary recalls the life of the lege...

28/10/2022

A hat-trick of World Cup documentaries coming to Sky and NOW this November

As football fans around the globe warm up for the biggest competition in world football, Sky Documentaries & streaming service NOW, the home of World Cup histor...

27/10/2022

First Image look from LEE. Academy Award Winner Kate Winslet As Pioneering War Correspondent and Photographer Lee Miller

Today, Sky and the producers of Lee, released the first official image of Kate W...

25/10/2022

Lionsgate+ lands on Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q

LIONSGATE , the international premium streaming service from STARZ, today arrives on Sky Glass, the smarter than a smart TV, Sky Stream the new, easy way to get...

25/10/2022

Tis The Season! Sky Arts announces stellar line-up of Christmas programmes

As the evenings draw in, Sky Arts is today announcing a packed line-up of shows for the Christmas period. Showcasing everything from our favourite festive carol...

24/10/2022

Teaser trailer released for new series of Succession exclusively available on Sky and NOW

The teaser trailer has been released for the award-winning series, Succession. C...