Super Rugby teams to face Lions next year will feature All Blacks stars

New Zealand selector Grant Fox insisted that the Super Rugby sides that are scheduled to play the British and Lions next year will be loaded with All Blacks internationals.

The Lions face a grueling tour of New Zealand in June 2017 when they take on the All Blacks in a three-Test series apart from their clashes with Provincial Union XV, Maori All Blacks and other Super Rugby sides.

Traditionally, New Zealand have always rested their Test players ahead of the Lions tour but Fox believes the schedule in the upcoming tour will allow the Super Rugby teams a greater access to the international stars.

"The Super Rugby sides will be loaded up with All Blacks early because there's a bit of time from game one to the first Test," Fox told the New Zealand Herald.

"They need to play and then as we get closer to the Tests some of those franchises will have less access to the All Blacks as we start preparing for the series."

British and Lions' previous tour was in 2013 when they won the Test series against Australia 2-1 with the Wales pair of Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton appointed as the head coach and captain respectively.