One of the most fearsome and highly-anticipated rivalries in world rugby will once again take centre stage in 2021 when The British & Irish Lions lock horns with the Springboks.

The Lions have toured South Africa on 13 previous occasions since their first meeting in 1891, with the tourists winning four of those Test series, losing eight and drawing one.

This time around Warren Gatland’s men will contest eight matches across seven different venues, including the concluding three-match Test series against the reigning world champions.

A Tour like no other, the Castle Lager Lions Series will provide both Lions players and the famous Sea of Red the opportunity to experience some of the most imposing venues in world rugby.

And as Warren Gatland’s men prepare to avenge their 2009 defeat to the Springboks, we have looked at the challenge posed by each of the stadiums to the world’s greatest touring team.

Cape Town Stadium (Cape Town)

The scene of the opening match of the Tour and the second Test, Cape Town Stadium is one of South Africa’s newest, most impressive venues with a capacity of 55,000.

Opened in 2009, the grand stadium sits upon the former site of the Green Point Stadium and hosted a number of matches during the 2010 Football World Cup.

The Tour curtain-raiser between the Lions and DHL Stormers will be the first time the tourists have played in the venue, which also staged the South African Sevens tournament in 2015.

Gatland’s side will face the Stormers on Saturday 3rd July before later returning to the venue for the second Test of the series against South Africa on Saturday 31st July.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Port Elizabeth)

Another eye-catching venue lies in wait for the Lions’ second Tour match, which will see them make the journey to Port Elizabeth for a match against an ‘Invitational’ South Africa side.

Situated on Algoa Bay, overlooking the North End Lake, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has a capacity of 48,000 and also hosted the Lions the last time they visited South Africa.

In fact, the Lions contested the first competitive game at the ground when a penalty try and another score from Ugo Monye helped the tourists to a 20-8 win against the Southern Kings.

It has since become home to the Kings, as well as hosting four World Rugby Sevens tournaments, but the Lions will hope to make it two for two when they return on Wednesday 7th July.

Jonsson Kings Park (Durban)

Stadiums don’t come much more unique than Jonsson Kings Park in Durban, where the Lions will do battle with the Cell C Sharks in their third match of the 2021 Tour.

With its two steep and towering stands, Kings Park has built up a reputation for providing one of the most imposing atmospheres in rugby – a fact previous Lions tourists can attest to.

Otherwise known as the Shark Tank, it has hosted some of the most iconic moments in Lions history – most notably the famous 18-15 win for the tourists on the 1997 Tour.

It was also the setting for the first Test of the 2009 Tour as the hosts triumphed 26-21, with the 52,000-capacity stadium returning to the Lions’ schedule on Saturday 10th July.

Mbombela Stadium (Mbombela)

A regular fixture in the sporting calendar since opening in 2009, Mbombela Stadium will host the Lions for the first time when they face South Africa A in their fourth Tour match.

Holding 40,929 spectators at full capacity, the venue has been called South Africa’s wildest stadium on the count of its bold black and white zebra-skin patterned seats.

Built for the 2010 Football World Cup, it hosted its first rugby match in 2010 when the Pumas overcame a 11-10 half-time deficit to beat the Blue Bulls 22-21 in the Currie Cup.

It has since proved a happy hunting ground for the Springboks, who beat Wales 31-30 in the second Test of their 2014 tour, but the Lions will take residency on Wednesday 14th July.

Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria)

The oldest stadium featured on the 2021 Tour schedule, the Loftus Versfeld Stadium was opened in 1923 and, unsurprisingly, has a long and illustrious history of hosting sporting events.

With a capacity of 51,762, the ground has hosted fixtures during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 2010 Football World Cup as well as multiple Tests between the Lions and the Springboks.

The ground’s first Test match came in 1955 when the travelling Lions narrowly defeated South Africa 9-6 while it also hosted the now famous second Test of the 2009 Tour.

That particular match ended up going in South Africa’s favour but the Lions will be counting on better fortune when they face the Vodacom Bulls in their last warm-up match.

FNB Stadium (Johannesburg)

The first Test of the 2021 Tour will pit the Lions against the Springboks at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, which has a capacity of 95,000 after being expanded in 2009.

Originally opened in 1989 and briefly known as Soccer City for the 2010 Football World Cup, it has hosted numerous African Cup of Nations finals but never a Lions Test match.

Nicknamed The Calabash and inspired by the design of an African pot, it was the site of Nelson Mandela’s first speech in Johannesburg after his release from prison in 1990.

Having already hosted Tri Nations and Rugby Championship matches between South Africa and New Zealand, the stadium will be the setting for another mighty Test on Saturday 24th July.

Emirates Airline Park (Johannesburg)

Following the Lions’ return to Cape Town for the second Test, the tourists and South Africa will conclude the series back in Johannesburg – this time at the Emirates Airline Park.

The touring Lions are no strangers to battling it out with the Springboks at the venue, playing seven Test Matches at Emirates Airline Park since 1938 and winning two of them.

It was also the venue of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, where President Nelson Mandela famously handed the trophy to triumphant South Africa captain Francois Pienaar.

Opened in 1929 and expanded in 2009, it should provide a fitting location for the 2021 Tour as the Lions look to repeat their victory at the ground in the final Test during their last visit.

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