The Lions will conclude their tour of Australia next summer with three Tests in a fortnight against the world champion Wallabies. Details of the 10-match trip, which lasts for six weeks, were unveiled yesterday. The Test series starts at The Gabba in Brisbane on June 30th, followed by Melbourne a week later and then Sydney's Stadium Australia (July 14th).
Apart from the Wallabies, other matches include appointments with all three Super 12 sides - Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs and ACT Brumbies.
No midweek game has been arranged for the tour's final week, giving coach Graham Henry unhindered preparation for a potential Test decider.
"After constructive negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union, we are now happy with the final agreed schedule," said manager Donal Lenihan. "Most of the management issues have been settled."
The playing personnel should total between 35 and 40. England forwards Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio, together with Ireland skipper Keith Wood, are front-running captaincy candidates.
Current England captain Johnson led the Lions to a 2-1 series triumph in South Africa three years ago, but former England leader Dallaglio is favoured by many players and pundits.
If Dallaglio secures the coveted role, then he would set off for Australia just two years after resigning the England captaincy amid newspaper allegations of drug-taking which he vehemently denied.
