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Australian Rugby Union today confirmed Perth will host the opening match of the tour when the British and Irish Lions make their long-awaited return to Australia in 2013.
The Lions – selected from the best players in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – visit Australia only once every 12 years, and will reignite a rivalry that exploded in 2001 when the Wallabies won a thrilling and sold-out series by two Tests to one.
On the 2013 Tour, the Lions will play nine matches in six cities around Australia, with one set down for Perth under a long-term deal between the ARU and the State Government through Eventscorp.
The Lions will play the Western Force in Perth on Wednesday, 5 June, with a venue still to be determined for the match.
Three days after taking on the Force, the Lions will play the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
While the tour opens in Perth, it will run a further five weeks before concluding with the Third Test in Sydney on Saturday, 6 July.
The First Test will be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, 22 June, and the Second Test at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, 29 June.
“The Lions tour here in 2001 was an extraordinary event and one which provided significant economic benefit to those cities which hosted major matches,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill AO.
“More than 8000 Lions supporters came to Australia from the UK and Ireland on official tour packages and many more thousands made their own way here.
“Four years ago in South Africa there were said to be 40,000 Lions fans that made the trek there to support their team.
“A Lions Tour is a massive occasion. Behind the Rugby World Cup it is the most engaging, high-profile and popular event our game can showcase.
“It is not just about the three Tests. It is about the hype and momentum a tour of six weeks develops.
“Back in 2001, the feature of the First Test was the seas of Red as the Lions fans dressed en masse in the team’s colours to show their support.
“It was a wonderful time and an unforgettable tour and 2013 promises to be even bigger and better.
“The tradition and history of the Lions continues with every tour they embark on to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
“The Lions tour only once every four years, so they visit the big three Southern Hemisphere nations only once every 12 years.
“We’re delighted to bring one of those nine Lions tour matches to Perth in two years’ time. When the Lions were last here in 2001, the Western Force was not even in contemplation.
“Our game has evolved and grown significantly since that tour of a decade ago and, as in 2001, we expect demand for Lions tickets to be extraordinarily high. It will be a tour not to miss.”
Before arriving in Australia for their nine-match Tour, the Lions will kick off their campaign with a match in Hong Kong against the Barbarians on Saturday, 1 June.
The full Lions Tour schedule is:
DATE MATCH CITY
Wednesday, 5 June Lions v Western Force Perth
Saturday, 8 June Lions v Queensland Reds Brisbane
Wednesday, 12 June Lions v Combined NSW-Qld Country Newcastle
Saturday, 15 June Lions v NSW Waratahs Sydney
Tuesday, 18 June Lions v Brumbies Canberra
Saturday, 22 June LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Brisbane
Tuesday, 25 June Lions v Melbourne Rebels Melbourne
Saturday, 29 June LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Melbourne
Saturday, 6 July LIONS v QANTAS WALLABIES Sydney