2021 British and Irish Lions Tour to be shown on free-to-air television

Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of the 2021 Lions tour this Summer as the series returns to free to air television for the first time since 1993.

Live coverage of The British & Irish Lions will return to terrestrial television for the first time in nearly 30 years with Channel 4’s broadcast of the Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup against Japan.

In addition to live coverage of the pre-Tour home game against Japan from BT Murrayfield on 26 June, Channel 4 will also show highlights of all three Tests against South Africa.

This will be the first time the Lions have been on terrestrial television since the 1993 Tour of New Zealand and highlights of all Castle Lager Lions Series Tour matches will also be shown on All4.

British & Irish Lions Managing Director Ben Calveley said:

“We are delighted that Channel 4 are our broadcast partners for our first match on home soil since 2005.

“I am looking forward to the excellent coverage and analysis that Channel 4 will no doubt provide and going on the recent squad announcement I’m sure the interest and numbers tuning in will be considerable for this clash.”

Last week Munster duo Tadhg Beirne and Conor Murray were selected for the tour alongside Irish internationals, Bundee Aki, Iain Henderson, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Robbie Henshaw.