EUROPEAN SHOWS PRESENT AUDITION OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LIONS TOUR 2021

The action kicks off in Bristol under the lights on Friday night when the Bears welcome Bordeaux-Begles at Ashton Gate for a chance to contest the Challenge Cup masterpiece.

A highly successful double Champions Cup title then heads the headlines on Saturday when reigning champions Saracens take on Racing 92 before Exeter Chiefs take on Toulouse. Rugby enthusiasts can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

The Leicester Tigers will close out the Anglo-French drama against Toulon at the Stade Félix Mayol later that day as Steve Borthwick's men compete for a spot in the Challenge Cup final. And there will be a large contingent of British and Irish Lions, along with those who have ambitions to be on the plane to South Africa next year, participating in all four games.

THE PENULTIMAL DANCE OF THE SARACENES

As the Saracens prepare for a season in the Championship, the Men in Black are treating the defense of their European crown as the last chance for this current team to achieve success. With several players already gone, loaned or retired, and others to follow, the Saracens could look like an entirely different team by the time they return to compete at the top table in Europe.

But after finishing Leinster's season undefeated the last time, there is still a chance to win the silver medal this year if they can defeat Racing 92 in their semi-final meeting in Paris. Lions like Mako Vunipola, Elliot Daly, Jamie George, and Maro Itoje will certainly help the visitors' cause, but they will have to keep Scotland's Finn Russell calm to progress.

"All eyes are on this competition for us this year," said Daly, a 2017 Lions tourist.

“There are some huge guys in that locker room who won't be Sarries next year, so we're doing it for them right now. Hopefully we have two more games”.

BOSSES START NEW FIELDS IN EUROPE

Exeter Chiefs will contest their first Champions Cup semi-final when they take on French giant and four-time European champion Toulouse at Sandy Park. And Rob Baxter will depend on his big-name players coming to the fore for the Devon team as they try to defeat the star-studded visitors to reach the silver masterpiece.

One of the main threats Exeter will have to face is the offensive prowess of South Africa's World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, who scored a double in his quarter-final win over Ulster. It's an enigma that Warren Gatland will also hope to face when the Lions take on the Springboks next year, with the sidestepping master arguably the best winger in world rugby at the moment.

But the Chiefs are not lacking in their own attacking talent thanks to a backline made up of Lions tourists Stuart Hogg and Jack Nowell, along with England international Henry Slade. Hogg and Nowell, in particular, were in great shape when Exeter defeated Northampton Saints last time out and a similar performance wouldn't do any harm to their 2021 Tour hopes.

TEST CHALLENGE FOR BEARS AND TIGERS

Premiership teams Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers face a French obstacle on their way to the Challenge Cup final when they face Bordeaux and Toulon, respectively. Pat Lam's Bears have been one of the fit teams in European rugby since the restart and feature international talents like Lions mainstay Kyle Sinckler and England's rising star Ben Earl.

Earl was at the heart of Bristol's resounding 56-17 victory over Dragons in the quarterfinals, scoring two attempts at Ashton Gate, and will expect more of the same against Bordeaux. Meanwhile, the other semi-final will see Leicester travel to France to face Toulon, who will have French captain Charles Ollivon and Italian legend Sergio Parisse in the back row.

The Tigers were given a goodbye to reach this stage after their quarter-finals with Castres were canceled, so 2017 Lions assistant coach Borthwick hopes his players are fresh for their quarter-final competition. Lions duo Tom and Ben Youngs start for the visitors, while England internationals George Ford and Ellis Genge are also in the XV for the club's biggest game of the season.

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Leonard: Lions have to match the Boks physicality

British & Irish Lions President Jason Leonard shares his thoughts on the upcoming South Africa tour in 2021. Rugby enthusiasts can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

What is your best memory of the Lions?

It's a really strange thing to explain. I am a very proud English. So I know what it meant to me when I put on an England jersey. British and Irish Lions are different. You are the best of all, from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. It is never an easy start to a Lions tour. You have spent the last four years kicking each other and you have to put those differences aside.

I will always remember one of the coaches, Sir Ian McGeechan, saying that you leave your nationality at the door. It is not English, Irish or Scottish, it is a British and Irish lion. You don't sit in small groups. We are all in this together. That really resonated with me.

What is the biggest challenge for a Lions team?

One of the biggest problems is trying to find enough time to get decent training and spend time together. You have to involve like-minded people. If you are adamant, you will most likely not enjoy your Lions tour.

Everything on a Lions tour is about change; there could be an injury and maybe you should play on a Wednesday and Saturday. You have to have people who want to do it well, but also do it well for each other. That is the most important. You may have game winners, but there are also many people on Lions teams who are selected to work for the team.

A fantastic winger will only get the ball if the group is working hard. It depends a lot on other people. That's what all rugby teams are about, but even more so with Lions because you're playing someone you've probably never caught or passed a ball to.

If you were lucky enough to tour the Lions in the past, it might have been the only time you did. That is also what makes Lions teams unique. From memory, no Lions team that went to New Zealand and then South Africa has been the same. That is why you have to make the most of it. You will never have that opportunity with the same people.

Explain your role as president of the British and Irish Lions for the South African tour.

With that position, there's a lot of work behind the scenes before we even get on a plane or play a little rugby. It's about making sure we are in a strong position before we go anywhere.

You have another administrative level below that and then you have your coaches, staff and back room people, your list goes on. So it's quite extensive to be a part of that. A successful president ensures that Warren Gatland, the players, whoever they are, have every opportunity to be the best they can be.

That may mean taking away their clerical job, public relations job, or television job so they can go out to train and play. Focus on being the best you can be. We understand that we have contractual obligations on this tour, but coming back to the Lions team, you cannot be inflexible. We want to help people. My role is to help everyone on this tour to be their best.

There will only be eight games on next year's tour. Does that help or hinder Lions players?

It's hard trying to fit this into the season every four years. The last tour was 10 matches, so we have lost two for this next tour. It's an added challenge on top of the already huge challenge of going to South Africa and playing in those stadiums with great support.

It would be nice to have more time, but we understand that it is not always possible. You try to work with people from the UK and Ireland to make sure we have access and the players have the opportunity to meet. Sadly, the days when we played, when you were going on tour and being absent for six months, are now not possible.

It is what it is and we have to move on. Would we have liked a couple more games? More likely. But that also presents a different challenge. If this Lions squad were undefeated on this tour, it would still be a great achievement.

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MONYE: "THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS IS THE MOST EXCLUSIVE RUGBY CLUB IN WORLD"

Monye was selected for his first and only Tour the last time the Lions visited South Africa 11 years ago despite having only a handful of matches for England on their behalf at the time. Rugby fans can book Springboks Vs British And Irish Lions Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

He scored four attempts in three starts in warm-up matches and was rewarded with a spot on the wing for the series-opening tryout against the world champions in Durban. And Monye recalls feeling a whirlwind of emotions as he sat in the room he shared with fellow debutante Jamie Roberts after discovering they had been named in the initial XV.

You're excited, but he's completely contained, he explained. I remember when the teams were named and the jerseys handed out, there was a wave of applause and that's it. There were more disappointed people in the room than jubilant guys who were selected, it's a great team and obviously only 15 of you can start.

I think it is important to understand that and have a social conscience that yes, you are happy, but there are many guys who are suffering. I shared a room with Jamie Roberts the night before the opening tryout game and saying you're like a kid on Christmas Eve doesn't do it justice.

"You're very excited, but at the same time, you don't want to play the game in your head 24 hours before it takes place. You're just trying to relax and forget about the game. But I remember Jamie and me saying, as we were both in the test debut, that if our careers ended after tomorrow's game and we got the correct result, we would be happy to retire."

British & Irish Lions

It was because it was so important, it meant a lot, and you just have to go through the files and watch the videos, see the players who have worn the jersey before you. You are part of that history, part of that legacy, that's how special it is. The British & Irish Lions are the most exclusive rugby club in the world and you only get one chance once every four years.

"And playing with the best in the world is incredible, what an opportunity."

Monye had a lot of competition for his spot, with World Player of the Year Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald, and Keith Earls all vying for spots on the wings. But the England and Harlequins man was confident that he had done enough to be selected for the first test after showing his attacking quality in preparation matches.

"I had calm confidence because I felt that my game was good, I was scoring attempts, I was defending well, I was taking into account the things that the coaches wanted me to do, he said. I imagined fitting into his game plan, which I think is vitally important, but you don't know. If it's not you, it's the world player of the year, if it's not you, it's Tommy Bowe."

"You are shattered, but you are surrounded by absolute quality, so it's a little easier to understand those decisions because you are surrounded by quality."

Ugo Monye

Monye was in the center of the action in the opening test and came agonizingly close to scoring twice but, following a loss to the Lions, lost his starting place for Game 2 in Pretoria. However, he put that disappointment behind him in the final test, scoring a memorable 70-meter intercepted try in a 28-9 victory, a moment he will never forget.

"To put the ball down and look up and see the crowd, you can't completely let go when you're on the field because you have a job to do," he said.

You're automatically thinking, 'catch the restart,' or the next inning or the next kick and chase. But my human side would have happily collapsed in a torrent of tears. It meant a lot and it was also a slight redemption for the first test, it was insane. Even that moment was really special because, not the attempt, but the congratulations when Tommy Bowe arrives, Stephen Jones, Rob Kearney, and Riki Flutey arrive.

I've seen that moment several times because you take the happiness out of other people's happiness and you can see how happy they were for me and how happy they were for the team. Riki just wouldn't let me go because he understood how much he meant to me. They gave me another chance after the first test and I wanted to fix some things.

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LIONS WATCH: ITOJE LEADS FROM FRONT & NOWELL WEAVES HIS MAGIC

The action started on Friday night as Bristol Bears brushed aside Dragons in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a scintillating display from the hosts at Ashton Gate. Rugby fans can book Springboks Vs British And Irish Lions Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Saracens then produced a stunning display to end Leinster’s undefeated season in a rematch of last season’s Champions Cup final, with the visitors winning 25-17 in Dublin.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh and Scarlets were knocked out by French Top 14 outfits Bordeaux Begles and Toulon, respectively, while Ulster suffered a similar fate against Toulouse. The weekend’s action concluded with an all-English battle at Sandy Park, where Exeter Chiefs stormed into the Champions Cup semi-finals with victory over Northampton Saints.

ITOJE INTENSITY ROCKS LEINSTER

The meeting between reigning champions Saracens and last year’s beaten finalists Leinster at the Aviva Stadium was always marked out as the game of the weekend. And it certainly didn’t fail to deliver as gluttony of British & Irish Lions featured for both teams in the quarter-final showdown, which ended in victory for the clinical visitors.

2017 tourist Maro Itoje was among those who enhanced his reputation, with the second-rower at the heart of Saracens’ outstanding defensive effort against the men in blue. Elliot Daly also impressed with two huge penalties to put the visitors 22-3 ahead at half-time, while Mako Vunipola’s herculean scrummaging and 16 tackles were just as influential.

The Irish province responded after the break with tries from Andrew Porter and Jordan Larmour, with Johnny Sexton converting, but it ultimately proved too little, too late. Sunday’s Champions Cup finale then saw another Lion land a telling blow as Jack Nowell demonstrated his quick feet to beat multiple defenders and score against Northampton Saints.

Nowell’s score just after the restart allowed the hosts to stretch their lead at Sandy Park and despite strong resistance from Saints, Exeter emerged triumphant 38-15 to reach the last four of Europe’s premier competition for the first time in their history.

EARL OF ASHTON GATE

There is already a wealth of options for Warren Gatland to choose from in the back row for the 2021 Tour but it looks like Ben Earl’s name could be added to the list. Earl has made a huge impact for Bristol Bears since joining on loan from Saracens and he was right in the thick of the action again during their thumping win over Dragons.

While two-time Lions tourist Jamie Roberts was making his debut for Dragons, it was Earl who deserved all the headlines for his double in the 56-17 victory at Ashton Gate. The 22-year-old benefitted from a superbly worked move by Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau for his opening score, racing over for Bristol’s second try after Dragons had started brightly.

Radradra then combined with the openside again minutes later before Earl slipped past Jordan Williams with a magnificent sidestep and crossed for his second of the evening.

KOLBE A CLASS ABOVE AGAIN

French teams enjoyed a successful weekend in both European competitions as Racing 92, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Toulon all secured their safe passage to the last four stages. Finn Russell, another 2017 tourist, pulled the strings expertly for Racing 92 as they overcame fellow Top 14 side, Clermont – including the key pass for Louis Dupichot’s opening try.

Elsewhere, three-time tourist Leigh Halfpenny, who was player of the series in 2013, showed his class despite Scarlets slipping to a narrow 11-6 defeat to Toulon. Halfpenny kicked a couple of penalties and denied a certain try with a last-ditch tackle but Italian giant Sergio Parisse’s try ultimately proved the difference in France.

But it was Cheslin Kolbe’s performance for Toulouse that will have drawn the attention of Lions fans, with the South African winger scoring another brace in his side’s 36-8 win over Ulster.

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Former British & Irish Lions star to the join Wallabies coaching staff

Former British and Irish Lion's blocker and current Melbourne assistant Geoff Parling has been named the Wallabies' forward coach for 2020 after Dan McKellar retired. Rugby enthusiasts can book Springboks Vs British And Irish Lions Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Parling played for the Rebels in 2018 and has made a successful transition to training, designing Melbourne's lineout for the past two years. In Super Rugby AU, the Rebels had the best success in the lineout with 88%, ahead of the Brumbies and Waratahs, both with 83%.

Brumbies coach McKellar was the Wallabies' first target, but he told Dave Rennie that he wanted to continue working in Canberra this year after his assistant Peter Hewat chose to fill a position in Japan. Parling, 36, will join new Wallabies scrum coach Petrus du Plessis, attack coach Scott Wisemantel and defense coach Matt Taylor, and the Wallabies team will meet next week for the first time. This year.

Melbourne strength and conditioning Coach Shane Lehane and physio Dan Mannix will also join the party. Playing 29 tests for England and with a win in the Lions series in 2013, Parling said he was honored to join the Wallabies setup.

"I really enjoyed helping develop the players we had in Melbourne, so now having the opportunity to join Dave's coaching team for this testing season is a real honor," said Parling.

Dave Rennie

Rennie said he was lucky that Parling was available on short notice, to an advantage of his knowledge of current players.

"He's technically very strong at the lineout and maul and has impressed me with his catch-up work ethic for the past two weeks," Rennie said.

“There have been many challenges so far in 2020 and we have had to be agile and adaptable, none more so than Geoff, who has already made so many sacrifices while on the road with Rebels this season, but still jumped at the opportunity to join our team”.

Parling will return to Melbourne after the 2020 Wallabies testing season, ahead of the Rebels 2021 Super Rugby season.

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Jones wants England to break British & Irish Lions call-ups record

England coach Eddie Jones is hopeful that more than 20 of his national team players will be called up to the British and Irish Lions squad for the South Africa tour in 2021. Rugby enthusiasts can book Cell C Sharks Vs British And Irish Lions Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

JONES WANTS ENGLAND TO BREAK THE LIONS CALL RECORD

Jones hopes his England team can get hold of the delayed 2020 Six Nations and 2021 edition to justify such dominance from the Lions group.

"I want to see a record, I want our team to be by far the dominant force in the Lions, Jones said in quotes published by The Guardian. I hope I am over 20, but that will be a consequence of them playing well for England."

The veteran coach expects the crowded 2020/2021 season to present challenges on the player's fitness front but said he hoped his players would be in the best possible condition under the circumstances.

"Circumstances dictate that it is a difficult season, but I think the planning between the clubs and the result will be that our players are in the best possible condition, Jones said. It's always tough, but that's the challenge we have in English rugby."

COACHES DO NOT EXPERIENCE

Jones scoffed at the suggestion that he might appoint an experimental team for the November Internationals, should they take place.

The Australian England coach joked: “The last experiment I did was about 39 years ago in biology. I remember opening a rat. Coaches don't experiment. Test rugby is about making your country proud and picking the best players."

Jones says he has been consulting with other sports codes about best practices for training under strict health protocols. The coach feels that the challenges of the pandemic present opportunities for him to perhaps gain an advantage.

"We have had our staff in contact with England cricket and have had discussions with the cycling team led by David Brailsford, added Jones. I have also been lucky enough to chat with some teams in the NFL, so we have been studying what is happening around the world. It will be different, there will be challenges but also opportunities."

ENGLAND ESPERANZA DE CLINCHER DELAYED SIX NATIONS

Ireland will face Italy at Aviva Stadium on October 24 to resume the 2020 Six Nations tournament. The last round of the Six Nations will take place on October 31.

Wales will face Scotland at a venue yet to be confirmed, Italy will host England at the Stadio Olimpico and France will play Ireland at the Stade de France. Jones' England is at the top of the standings with 13 points but is only ahead of France in point difference.

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IPL 2020: BKT Tires declares collaboration with 6 franchises

 

Balkrishna Industries Ltd has been supporting Indian sports. Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT Tires), the Indian multinational group and global player in the off-highway tire market, has announced that it will be sponsoring six teams. Indian Premier League fans can book Ipl Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Teams of Ipl Uae are  Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Cricket is a very popular sport in India. Everyone loves the game and we at BKT are unstoppable when it is about sport. We are pleased and excited to be a part of an event that is much followed in our home country," Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director of BKT, said.

"We believe in sharing values such as resolution, fair play, persistence, and self-confidence as well as the awareness of one's limits. We are a keen supporter of several national sports all around the globe, but it fills me with immense pleasure that we are now supporting such a significant sporting event of India," he added.

BKT has just been advancing cricket by supporting the Big Bash League (BBL) in light of a concurrence with Cricket Australia. Indian Premier League fans can book IPL Opening Ceremony Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

It has additionally been supporting Indian games and has joined forces with Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan, Tamil Thalaivas, U Mumba, Gujarat Fortune Giants, UP Yoddha, Dabang Delhi, and Haryana Steelers Kabaddi in the 2019 season - eight out of 12 teams of the Pro Kabaddi League.

The 13th IPL edition is slated to be played in the UAE from September 19 to November 10.

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Springboks Kolbe eyes incredible Lions tour

 The Springboks' Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe said on Monday he wants to be a part of next year's incredible British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

Kolbe, 26, is set to feature as the visitors return to the rainbow nation for the first time since the hosts' series victory 12 years ago. Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

"I watched in 2009 and ever since I told myself I want to be a part of that," he said during a press conference.

"Seeing the atmosphere, the way the stadiums were packed, the amount of time (that) is invested when the British and Irish Lions do come over, it's incredible. It's a team I want to be a part of and play in those three Tests."

The Toulouse three-quarter, who won an Olympic Sevens bronze medal in 2016, was forced to choose between featuring at next year's Tokyo Games, which have been rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic or facing Warren Gatland's men.

"It was a difficult one with the Lions being at the same time. Being a part of the Olympics in 2016 and experiencing that was incredible," he said.

"Playing against athletes from all over the world and meeting athletes in the Olympic village are the things you want to be a part of," he added.

Kolbe was a teenager when the world champions beat the Lions 2-1 and have a clear memory from the second Test in Pretoria.

"Morne Steyn, playing at Loftus, so he knew the stadium, getting that penalty from past the halfway line," he said.

"The moment with all the green jerseys standing up and they went crazy for the winning points. That was one of the highlights.

"Playing against the Lions, because they are made out of different countries makes it so much more special and playing against the best -- that's who you want to perform against and how you want to see where you are as a player."

- 'Difficult' clashes -

Ahead of the tour, which runs from July 3-August 7, Kolbe is expected to feature for the Boks during The Rugby Championship later this year, so will be unavailable for the 2019 Top 14 winners for more than a month.

Kolbe called on domestic leagues and national unions to work together to create a calendar that will decrease clashes.

"If internationals do come up you have to be available to your national team, but the clubs should have an understanding in terms of when and how they need the players so players can plan," he said.

"It's difficult for clubs to lose players due to internationals but it also allows players to perform at the national stage."

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Crusaders coach Scott Robertson reveals how he intends to help the British & Irish Lions

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has revealed that his potential involvement in next year's British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa may play a lesser role than many might have anticipated. Rugby enthusiasts can book South Africa Invitational Vs British And Irish Lions Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

Much has been made of the prospect of Robertson, who recently guided the Crusaders to a fourth straight title at the Super Rugby level, joining Chiefs boss Warren Gatland on his third tour in charge of the composite team. Speaking at the Country Sports Breakfast in Gold AM last week, Robertson said he asked Gatland about joining him on the tour and offered his services.

"Once I missed the All Blacks job, I went up to Gats and asked if I could go on that tour," he said. “I thought, see if I can't get involved with the All Blacks, what is the most important, or actually greatest in itself, the Lions tour? I said 'look, I'd love to help you if I can.”

Lan McGeechan

Since then, his interest in a possible coaching position has been rejected by former Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan, who wrote in The Daily Telegraph that Robertson's enthusiasm was "flattering" but that a place on the coaching staff it should be reserved for someone who knows Lions. Players "intimately".

However, Robertson told Stuff he doesn't want to join the Lions coaching staff at someone else's expense, but in a support role. The 46-year-old raised the possibility of potentially helping defense coach Andy Farrell or helping with a specific positional group, such as loose forwards.

"I'm happy to help Andy Farrell with defense, to have a more specialized role that allows him to get the best out of the group, he told Stuff. You need a hand. You have test matches and matches during the week. The coaching staff is great, they have a lot of players on Lions tours."

Scott Robertson

However, Robertson revealed that he had not yet received any indication from Gatland on whether he would join the former Wales coach on the tour, and confirmed that he would not speak on the matter again until a decision has been made.

“Once again, it was an opportunity for me to grow as a person and teach with people with different mindsets and abilities and to be in such a special group. Nothing has changed since that, he told Stuff. I'm waiting to see. If I can help, it will be great.”

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