Lions Tour

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The 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour that took place in South Africa in July and August 2021. The British & Irish Lions, a team selected from players eligible to represent England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, played a three-match test series against South Africa, and tour matches against three of South Africa's four United Rugby Championship teams and South Africa A.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the tour, leading to numerous schedule changes and the matches in South Africa taking place without fans present. Before leaving for South Africa, the Lions beat Japan in a warm-up match at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. They won all of their matches against the South African franchises, but lost to South Africa A.

South Africa won the test series by two matches to one. The Lions won the first test 22–17 on 24 July, but South Africa won the second test 27–9 a week later before winning the third test 19–16 with a late penalty on 7 August.

Warren Gatland was the Lions' head coach, making him only the second coach to lead the team on three consecutive tours. Alun Wyn Jones of Wales was the Lions' tour captain, but was injured in the home match against Japan on 26 June; he initially withdrew from the squad before returning three weeks later. Ireland's Conor Murray took over as captain during Jones' absence.

Turnaj Lions Tour je jedinečná séria zápasov v ragby únii, v ktorej sa konfrontujú britskí a írski leví (samostatný medzinárodný tím vytvorený špeciálne pre tento turnaj) so svetovými tímami. Turnaj sa koná každé štyri roky a je prestížnym podujatím v ragbyovom kalendári.

Lions sú tím zložený z najlepších hráčov z Anglicka, Škótska, Walesu a Írska. Tím je vyberaný raz za štyri roky a hrá sériu zápasov proti domácim tímom v krajine, kde sa turnaj koná. V minulosti Lions odohrali zápasy proti tímom ako Nový Zéland, Austrália, Južná Afrika a Argentína.

Turnaj Lions Tour je známy svojou intenzitou a fyzickosťou. Zápasy sú často veľmi vyrovnané a víťazstvo môže rozhodnúť aj najmenší detail. Turnaj je tiež veľkou udalosťou pre fanúšikov ragby, ktorí cestujú z celého sveta, aby mohli sledovať svoj tím.

Lions Tour je jedinečný a vzrušujúci turnaj, ktorý ponúka fanúšikom ragby možnosť vidieť najlepších hráčov na svete v akcii.