British & Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions manager John Spencer has revealed that only a head coach in a position to take a year-long sabbatical will be considered to lead the tour to New Zealand in 2017.

With the Rugby World Cup over and the Six Nations still a couple of months away, we are afforded an opportunity to take a look ahead to the British and Irish Lions’ tour of New Zealand in 2017.

Keith Wood is a man who is part of a very elite group of players. He is one of the privileged few to have pulled on the famous Lions jersey and come back to the Northern Hemisphere as part of a winning Lions team.

Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood believes that the British and Irish Lions will have an immensely talented squad for their tour of New Zealand in two years’ time but adds that they can take certain characteristics from the southern hemisphere sides to help them become a better team.

Steve Hansen has reaffirmed his expectation that his tenure as New Zealand head coach to end will end when his contract expires in 2017.

There seems to be a wave of discontent coming from Southern rugby fans after the news that there will not be an All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions test in the South Island in 2017.

The British and Irish Lions announced the details of their 2017 tour of New Zealand on Friday with Auckland hosting two of the three Tests against the All Blacks.

The British and Irish Lions will play New Zealand twice at Eden Park in Auckland during a 10-match 2017 tour.

The British and Irish Lions board has announced the appointment of Charlie McEwen as chief operating officer.

Former Wales full-back Lee Byrne has been forced to retire after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.

With the Six Nations sides on a bye week, we decided to put together a British and Irish Lions XV for their 2017 tour to New Zealand, factoring in current form and prospective standing in the game in two years’ time.

British and Irish Lions full-back Sean Maitland will leave Glasgow Warriors for London Irish this summer.

The British and Irish Lions could be forced into a name change if Scotland votes for independence next week.

For 22-year-old George North the rise to international rugby stardom has been a remarkable, and explosive one and last year was no exception to this as the giant winger helped Northampton win the Aviva Premiership with his first season in the league.

Former England captain John Spencer has been appointed as British and Irish Lions tour manager for the trip to New Zealand in 2017.

Inspirational Ireland and Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris has been forced to retire at the unfortunate age of just 28 with a persistent ankle problem.

The Southern Hemisphere rugby union press are full of this story and their old friend Quade Cooper has added his opinions. Whenever there is rugby news or debate in this part of the world, we turn to Scott Donaldson.

Warren Gatland admits the fallout from dropping Brian O'Driscoll for the summer's final British Lions Test will put an "extra twist" on Wales' trip to Ireland in the RBS 6 Nations.

It has been announced today that Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has won the Rugby Union Writers' Club Player of the Year Award for 2013.

Throughout 2013 Scott has brought Talking Rugby Union readers news, commentary and insights about Southern Hemisphere rugby.