Sky Sports launches pop-up channel dedicated to the British & Irish Lions Tour of South Africa
Sky Sports The Lions will be the home of the British & Irish Lions 2021 Castle Lager Series in South Africa. The pop-up channel – available on Sky and Now – will provide around the clock coverage of the tour for 24 days as Warren Gatland’s squad takes on the world champions.
Replacing Sky Sports Action from Saturday 17 July until 10 August, the pop-up channel will be the place to take in the final warm-up game for the Lions against DHL Stormers before the three Test matches get underway. Rugby fans will also be able to watch the preceding four warm-up games in South Africa live on Sky Sports Action until the pop-up channel launches.
Guiding viewers throughout the tour, host Alex Payne will be joined by legends of the game including former Lions and Wales captain Sam Warburton, Ireland’s leading points-scorer Ronan O’Gara as well as England’s World Cup winners Will Greenwood and Maggie Alphonsi. Four-time Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan and Nigel Owens – the highest capped referee of all time – will also add their insight and analysis from the studio, while reporter Sarra Elgan will be on the ground in South Africa with former South Africa winger Bryan Habana. Conor McNamara will provide the commentary for every match of the Tour to complete the Sky Sports line-up.
With the series being played behind closed doors, Lions legend Scott Quinnell will be Sky Sports’ roving reporter from the Sky Sports Fan Van as he travels the UK to hear the stories of fans and ex-players cheering on the touring side from the UK. Lions fans can look forward to daily content across social media as well as live broadcasts from pubs and rugby clubs across the country.
The coverage of the Lions tour will include an hour of build-up and post-match analysis, increasing to 90 minutes of build-up for the Test matches. In addition, Sky Sports and Now customers will have access to Chasing The Sun – a five episode documentary on Springbok rugby that looks into themes on and off the pitch, culminating with South Africa captain Siya Kolisi lifting the 2019 World Cup.
Sky Sports managing director Jonathan Licht said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the British & Irish Lions to bring our viewers a seventh consecutive Lions tour – a partnership that has now entered its 25th year – and we’re looking forward to seeing some thrilling rugby played in South Africa against the current world champions. With fans unable to cheer on the Lions in person, we’re pleased to be able to bring the best of the action to the Sea of Red back home.”