Ananova:

The British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in the summer of 2005 will consist of 10 matches, including a three-Test series against the All Blacks.

The Test matches will be played in Christchurch on June 25, Wellington a week later and the series will culminate at Auckland's Eden Park on July 9.

The Lions, to be coached by Sir Clive Woodward, will play provincial sides, rather than Super 12 franchises but will not face domestic champions Auckland.

There will be six matches leading into the first Test, opening against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on June 4.

Five of the fixtures will be against sides from the first division of the National Provincial Competitions, including Otago and Wellington; the sixth is a hotly-anticipated clash with the New Zealand Maori in Hamilton.

Lions chairman and tour manager Bill Beaumont said: "As it is 12 years since the British and Irish Lions toured New Zealand it is high time we renewed our long held their traditions with the country in general and the All Blacks in particular.

"The tour itself promises to challenge the 2005 Lions from start to finish with a series of difficult assignments but I am absolutely sure that we will rise to that challenge.''

Manawatu is the only side from the lower divisions of the NPC to have been awarded a fixture during the tour and they provide the final midweek opposition, in between the first and second Tests.

British and Irish Lions fixtures in New Zealand, 2005:

June 4: Bay of Plenty - Rotorua International Stadium

June 8: Taranaki - Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth

June 11: NZ Maori - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

June 15: Wellington - Westpac Stadium, Wellington

June 18: Otago - Carisbrook, Dunedin

June 21: Southland - Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill

June 25: 1st Test - Jade Stadium, Christchurch

June 28: Manawatu - Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North

July 4: 2nd Test - Westpac Stadium, Wellington

July 9: 3rd Test - Eden Park, Auckland

	Check for more on: New Zealand British Lions Flash Sport RugbyU

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