Lions Tour of South Africa 2009 – Tickets and Travel Insurance

Fans don’t need reminding that the British and Irish Lions 2009 Tour of South Africa begins at the end of May.  The three-test series begins with the first match on 30 May in Rustenburg and continues through 4 July at various locations, including Johannnesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Cape Town.  

The British and Irish Lions team is comprised of some of the best red-shirted rugby union players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and this will be the team’s first return to South Africa since the 1997 victory over the Springboks.  The tour is held every four years, rotating between New Zealand, South Africa and Australia; New Zealand hosted the tour in 2005 and Australia in 2001.  The first official tour to South Africa was back in 1910.

The Lion’s tour is sure to be a battle well worth the trip for those lucky enough to go, in combination with a visit to this beautiful part of the world.  Visit our Travel Guide for South Africa and look for the link for the Foreign Office (FCO) for essential and up-to-date travel information and advice. 

Tickets are allocated as part of an organized tour by officially licensed and appointed travel agents and tour operators.  Obtaining tickets through any other channel is very risky – and expensive – especially if relying on scalpers or touts.  Tickets obtained through ‘illegal’ means may cost hundreds of pounds and be devastatingly useless if entry to the stadium is refused.

The British and Irish Lions have an official Supporters Club and membership comes with lots of goodies and discounts.  For more info and to see the fixtures for 2009 visit the official website.  Don’t earn yourself a penalty by taking off without travel insurance – check out our cheap rates here.