British and Irish Lions announce 2021 tour

The British and Irish Lions' 2021 South Africa tour will kick off in Cape Town just seven days after the Gallagher Premiership final.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland has already voiced concernsoversufficientpreparation time for his squad.

But as things stand, the Lions' official confirmation of an eight-match itinerary means an opening fixture scheduled for the Saturday after England's top two clubs go head-to-head at Twickenham. There has so far been no indication from Premiership Rugby that they might be prepared to bring forward their showpiece season finale by a week in 2021, following the Guinness PRO14's example.

It is understood that as part of their tour build-up, the Lions would like to play a game - potentially on June 26 and possibly against the Barbarians - before departure.

The Lions' 2017 New Zealand tour saw them leave London two days after the Premiership final, arrive in Auckland on the Wednesday and then play their first game little more than 72 hours later.

While jet-lag and time zones will not be anywhere as big a problem travelling to South Africa, a full week's preparation with his entire squad - as opposed to staggered arrivals because of domestic finals - would be like gold dust for Gatland.

Two of the three Tests against newly-crowned world champions South Africa will be staged at altitude in Johannesburg.

The first Test is at FNB Stadium, which borders Soweto and was used for the 2010 football World Cup final, and the third at Ellis Park, with Cape Town Stadium - another World Cup venue - hosting the second Test.

There are no midweek games between Tests, with the Lions also facing three Super Rugby teams - Stormers, Sharks and Bulls - plus South Africa A and a South African invitational team.

The tour begins on July 3, culminating in the third Springboks clash five weeks later. Lions' 2021 tour: July 3 - Stormers (Cape Town), 7 - South Africa 'Invitational' - Port Elizabeth, 10 - Sharks (Durban), 14 - South Africa A (Nelspruit), 17 - Bulls (Pretoria), 24 - South Africa (Johannesburg), 31 - South Africa (Cape Town), August 7 - South Africa (Johannesburg).