New Zealand

New Zealand have received the much needed boost ahead of the first Test against British and Irish Lions with the return of skipper Kieran Read after recovering from a thumb injury.

The British and Irish Lions will face a daunting task of facing All Blacks in two out of the three Test series at Eden Park in Auckland where New Zealand enjoy a win percentage of over 86.

The British and Irish Lions secured an utterly convincing victory over the Chiefs yesterday.

New Zealand international said he is looking forward to a rare occasion of facing British and Irish Lions in the upcoming three-match Test series between the two teams.

Jack Nowell scored a double as British and Irish Lions completed a convincing 6-34 win over Chiefs in the tour game at FMG Stadium Waikato on Tuesday.

New Zealand assistant coach Ian Foster revealed that All Blacks skipper Kieran Read is desperate to take the field for the first Test against British and Irish Lions in Auckland on Saturday.

England international Jamie George insisted that the recent 10-32 convincing win for British and Irish Lions against Maori All Blacks will serve a warning to New Zealand ahead of the three match Test series.

Asafo Aumua scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand overpowered England by 17-64 in the final at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Sunday to win the sixth U20 Championship title.

After an excellent hit out, and convincing 32-­-10 victory against a formidable Maori All Black team, the B&I Lions will take confidence and momentum into the first Test Match at Eden park on Saturday.

As a big blow to British and Irish Lions' chances in New Zealand, Wales international Ross Moriarty has been ruled out of the campaign after failing to make sufficient progress from a back injury.

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen insisted that the All Blacks are not a finished unit yet despite a resounding victory over Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

New Zealand ran a 12-try riot as they warmed up for the British and Irish Lions series with an intimidating 78-0 win over Samoa at Eden Park on Friday.

Maori All Blacks star Liam Messam has issued a stern warning to the British and Irish Lions that Warren Gatland's men will face a team of warriors “bound by blood” in Rotorua on Saturday.

New Zealand scored four tries in the first half as they completed a 39-26 win over France in the U20 Championship 2017 semi-final at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Tuesday.

Scotland international Stuart Hogg has been ruled out of the remainder of British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand following a cheek injury that he sustained during the tour game against Crusaders on Saturday.

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Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has not ruled out of the possibility of him missing the first Test for the British and Irish Lions against New Zealand that begins at Eden Park on 24th June.

Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke scored a hat-trick each as New Zealand registered a 3-69 bonus point victory over Ireland in the U20 Championship 2017 encounter at AIA Arena on Thursday.

New Zealand have included uncapped duo Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett in a 33-man squad that will take on British and Irish Lions in their upcoming three-match home Test series against British and Irish Lions.

Blues head coach Tana Umaga lavished praise on New Zealand international Sonny Bill Williams after his team's 22-16 win over British and Irish Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday.