The British & Irish Lions toured New Zealand during June and July 2017. The Lions, a rugby union team selected from players eligible to represent England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, played ten matches: against all five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises, the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians, the Māori All Blacks and three test matches against New Zealand.
The test series was drawn 1–1 – one victory each and a draw in the third match. Of the other tour matches, the Lions won four, lost two and drew one.
Wales coach Warren Gatland was head coach of the Lions, having also led the Lions to victory in the 2013 series against Australia. Former Wales captain Sam Warburton was appointed as tour captain, a role he also held on the 2013 tour. The Lions squad voted Jonathan Davies their player of the series.
Schedule The ten-match schedule was announced on 9 July 2015, and included matches against New Zealand Super Rugby teams for the first time. Previously in New Zealand, the Lions had played provincial sides or combined provincial selections. However, this was the first tour to New Zealand where the visit fell in the middle of the Super Rugby season.
Initially, the Lions proposed a match in the United States against the U.S. national team to open the tour, much like the Barbarians match in Hong Kong in 2013. However, on 6 July 2015, the idea was dropped because of the unavailability of key American players due to club commitments. The opening match of the tour was originally planned to be against a Provincial Union XV, but this was changed to the New Zealand Barbarians in March 2016, following their win over the Māori All Blacks.
Christchurch was initially planned to host a test match but, due to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake which damaged Lancaster Park beyond repair, it was deemed that the remaining stadiums in the South Island were too small to host a test match.
DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueDetailsResult3 JuneNew Zealand Provincial Barbarians7–13British & Irish LionsOkara Park, WhangāreiMatch detailsWin7 JuneBlues22–16British & Irish LionsEden Park, AucklandMatch detailsLoss10 JuneCrusaders3–12British & Irish LionsRugby League Park, ChristchurchMatch detailsWin13 JuneHighlanders23–22British & Irish LionsForsyth Barr Stadium, DunedinMatch detailsLoss17 JuneMāori All Blacks10–32British & Irish LionsRotorua International Stadium, RotoruaMatch detailsWin20 JuneChiefs6–34British & Irish LionsWaikato Stadium, HamiltonMatch detailsWin24 JuneNew Zealand30–15British & Irish LionsEden Park, AucklandMatch detailsLoss27 JuneHurricanes31–31British & Irish LionsWellington Regional Stadium, WellingtonMatch details1 JulyNew Zealand21–24British & Irish LionsWellington Regional Stadium, WellingtonMatch detailsWin8 JulyNew Zealand15–15British & Irish LionsEden Park, AucklandMatch details
Squads Lions Tour manager John Spencer announced an initial squad of 41 on 19 April 2017, made up of 16 players from England, 12 from Wales, 11 from Ireland and 2 from Scotland.
Ben Youngs was initially selected in the squad but withdrew on 6 May for personal reasons. Billy Vunipola withdrew from the squad on 21 May after suffering a shoulder injury while playing for his club Saracens.
On 17 June, six players – Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies, Allan Dell, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Finn Russell – were added to the squad to provide cover during mid-week games ahead of the test series. These players were nicknamed the "Geography Six" as they were on tour with their national teams in Australia and New Zealand at the time.
Ross Moriarty was ruled out of the tour after an injury sustained against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians. On 29 June, Robbie Henshaw and George North were ruled out of the remaining games after sustaining injuries against the Hurricanes. Jared Payne was ruled out of the final game due to concussion.
Notes: Ages listed are as of the first tour match on 3 June. Player positions are per the Lions' website. Bold denotes that the player was selected for a previous Lions squad. Italic denotes a player that withdrew from the squad following selection.
PlayerPositionDate of birth (age)National teamClub/provinceNational caps(Lions tests)NotesHookerUlster104HookerCardiff Blues4Called up as coverHookerSaracens17HookerScarlets50PropEdinburgh9Called up as coverPropLeicester Tigers74 (3)PropExeter Chiefs23Called up as coverPropLeinster16PropHarlequins51PropLeinster41PropHarlequins8PropSaracens42 (3)Second row / Back rowUlster32Second rowDragons6Called up as coverSecond row / Back rowSaracens12Second rowOspreys110 (6)Second rowSaracens20Second rowNorthampton Saints58Back rowBath66 (1) Back rowWasps75Replaced Billy VunipolaBack rowGloucester17Withdrew due to injury sustained during tourBack rowLeinster49 (2)Back rowMunster40Back rowMunster15Back rowOspreys51 (1) (c)Back rowCardiff Blues73 (2)Back rowSaracens34Withdrew due to injury before tourScrum-halfScarlets25Called up as coverScrum halfGloucester58Replaced Ben YoungsScrum halfMunster58 (2)Scrum halfOspreys28Scrum halfLeicester Tigers70 (2)Withdrew for personal reasons before tourFly halfOspreys56Fly half / CentreSaracens52 (1)Fly-halfGlasgow Warriors29Called up as coverFly halfLeinster66 (3)CentreScarlets64 (3)CentreLeinster24Withdrew due to injury sustained during tourCentreBath33Centre / Full backUlster20Withdrew due to injury sustained during tourCentreWorcester Warriors8Centre / WingWasps13WingNorthampton Saints69 (3)Withdrew due to injury sustained during tourWing / Full backExeter Chiefs23WingGlasgow Warriors36Wing / Full backBath26Full back / WingToulon71 (3)Full backGlasgow Warriors53Withdrew due to injury sustained during tourFull back / WingScarlets38
Management and staff
On 30 July 2014, former English international player John Spencer was named the Lions' tour manager.
On 7 September 2016, Warren Gatland was confirmed as the Lions' head coach and named his assistants on 7 December 2016 – Steve Borthwick, Andy Farrell and Rob Howley. Howley was on his fifth tour, having previously toured as a player (1997 and 2001) and coach (2009 and 2013). Borthwick was making his first tour as a Lions coach and Farrell was on his second, after being part of the coaching staff in 2013.
RoleNameManagementChief executive (CEO)John FeehanChief operating officer (COO)Charlie McEwenChairmanTom GraceTour managerJohn SpencerCoachingRoleNameUnion/ClubHead coachWarren Gatland Assistant coach (attack)Rob Howley Assistant coach (forwards)Steve Borthwick Assistant coach (defence)Andy Farrell Assistant coach (kicking)Neil JenkinsAssistant coach (scrum)Graham Rowntree HarlequinsPerformance staffHead analystRhodri BownSports scientistBrian CunniffeHead of strength & conditioningPaul Stridgeon ToulonHead of medicalEanna FalveyPhysiotherapistPrav MathemaPhysiotherapistPhil PaskPhysiotherapistBob StewartMasseurDave RedinsMasseurAngela RickardOperationsDirector of operationsGer Carmody Legal officerMax DuthieBaggage masterPatrick O'ReillyCatering and nutritionDave CampbellHead of communicationsDave BartonCommunications managerLuke BroadleyCommunications managerChristine Connolly
New Zealand New Zealand's 33-man squad for their Pasifika Challenge match against Samoa and their three-test series against the British & Irish Lions.
Liam Coltman, Vaea Fifita, Jack Goodhue, Akira Ioane and Matt Todd were also named in the squad as injury cover.
Following concussion to Ben Smith in the first test, Damian McKenzie was added to the squad as cover for Ben Smith.
On 3 July, Malakai Fekitoa was called up as a replacement for Sonny Bill Williams who was suspended after a red card in the second test.
All squad members play rugby in New Zealand.
Coaching team: Head coach: Steve Hansen Attack coach: Ian Foster Forwards coach: Mike Cron Defence coach: Wayne Smith
Note: Ages, caps and clubs as per first test match, 24 June 2017.
Matches Provincial games
As well as the test series, the Lions played tour matches against New Zealand provincial teams. For the first time since the establishment of Super Rugby, this included playing all five of New Zealand's Super Rugby teams. The current form of the Super Rugby teams made this tour arguably one of the toughest undertaken by a British & Irish Lions team.
The Lions arrived in New Zealand just two days before their first match against a Provincial Barbarians team. The Barbarian team was made up of players on the fringe of New Zealand Super Rugby teams, and included Bryn Gatland, son of Lions coach Warren Gatland. The Barbarians led 7–3 at half time, before Anthony Watson scored for the visitors to give them the lead with 30 minutes to go. They held on to open the tour with an unconvincing 13–7 victory.
The next match was four days later against the Blues, an Auckland-based Super Rugby franchise. The Lions led 16–15 with 10 minutes remaining before a Sonny Bill Williams break and offload to Ihaia West led to the match-winning try. A try-less 12–3 victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch followed. This was the first time the Crusaders had lost in 2017. It was another close game against the Highlanders, and Marty Banks from the Otago-based side kicked the winning penalty with six minutes remaining.
The next match was against the Māori All Blacks, a team made up of players with Maori ancestry. A strong squad was named, with nine players with All Black caps selected. The Lions beat the Maori team with ease in what was predicted to be the toughest match before meeting the All Blacks. The convincing 32–10 victory was followed up three days later as they put another dominant display against the Chiefs in Hamilton, winning 34–6. The final mid-week game against the Hurricanes was played after the first All Black test match. The Hurricanes came from behind to secure a 31–31 draw in Wellington.
Team details FB 15Luteru LaulalaRW 14Sam VakaOC 13Inga Finau IC 12Dwayne SweeneyLW 11Sevu ReeceFH 10Bryn Gatland SH 9 Jack Stratton N8 8 Mitchell DunsheaOF 7 Lachlan Boshier BF 6 James Tucker RL 5 Keepa Mewett LL 4 Josh GoodhueTP 3 Oliver Jager HK 2 Sam Anderson-Heather (c) LP 1 Aidan Ross Replacements:HK 16Andrew Makalio PR 17Tolu Fahamokioa PR 18Marcel Renata FL 19Matt Matich N8 20Peter Rowe SH 21Richard Judd WG 22Jonah Lowe CE 23Joe Webber Coach: Clayton McMillan FB 15 Stuart HoggRW 14 Anthony WatsonOC 13 Jonathan JosephIC 12 Ben Te'oLW 11 Tommy SeymourFH 10 Johnny Sexton SH 9 Greig Laidlaw N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Ross MoriartyRL 5 Iain Henderson LL 4 Alun Wyn JonesTP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16 Jamie George PR 17 Mako Vunipola PR 18 Tadhg Furlong LK 19 George Kruis FL 20 Justin Tipuric SH 21 Rhys Webb FH 22 Owen Farrell CE 23 Elliot DalyCoach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Taulupe Faletau (British & Irish Lions)
Touch judges: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
Team details FB 15Michael CollinsRW 14Matt Duffie OC 13George Moala IC 12Sonny Bill WilliamsLW 11Rieko IoaneFH 10Stephen Perofeta SH 9 Augustine Pulu N8 8 Steve LuatuaOF 7 Blake Gibson BF 6 Akira IoaneRL 5 Scott ScraftonLL 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti TP 3 Charlie Faumuina HK 2 James Parsons (c) LP 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi Replacements:HK 16Epalahame Faiva PR 17Alex Hodgman PR 18Sione Mafileo LK 19Jimmy Tupou FL 20Kara Pryor SH 21Sam Nock FH 22Ihaia West CE 23TJ Faiane Coach: Tana Umaga FB 15 Leigh HalfpennyRW 14 Jack NowellOC 13 Jared Payne IC 12 Robbie HenshawLW 11 Elliot DalyFH 10 Dan Biggar SH 9 Rhys Webb N8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 James Haskell RL 5 Courtney Lawes LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Ken Owens (c) LP 1 Jack McGrath Replacements:HK 16 Rory Best PR 17 Joe Marler PR 18 Kyle Sinckler LK 19 Iain Henderson FL 20 Peter O'Mahony SH 21 Greig Laidlaw FH 22 Johnny Sexton FB 23 Liam Williams Coach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Sonny Bill Williams (Blues)
Touch judges: Mathieu Raynal (France)