The British and Irish Lions play three Tests in Australia The British and Irish Lions will have names on the backs of jerseys for the first time in their history this summer. Andy Farrell's side meet Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, before the nine-game tour of Australia. The decision to put player names on the touring side's famous red jerseys for every game was approved by the Lions board after consultations with former and current players. The measure is expected to help casual fans of the game identify those on the field during play, and it will also enable supporters to buy replica shirts for an individual player. England have had player names on the backs of shirts since the Autumn Nations series of 2022, with Scotland quick to follow suit. Ireland waited until a World Cup warm-up fixture against Italy in 2023, but by the time of the 2024 Six Nations all sides in the competition were doing so. While the change to player jerseys will be one significant first for the tour to Australia, another will not be golden-point extra time. Rugby Australia had suggested the sudden-death method to avoid a repeat of the Lions' 2017 series draw against New Zealand. But despite Australia's preference for a golden point tie-breaker, it is understood the concept has been rejected by the Lions. It means any Test level after 80 minutes will end as a draw.
Names to be on Lions jerseys for first time
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"British and Irish Lions to Feature Player Names on Jerseys for Upcoming Tour"
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TruthLens AI Summary
For the first time in its storied history, the British and Irish Lions will feature player names on the backs of their jerseys during their upcoming tour to Australia. This landmark decision was made following consultations with both current and former players, and it was approved by the Lions board. The change aims to enhance the viewing experience for casual fans by making it easier to identify players on the field. Additionally, this move allows supporters to purchase replica jerseys with the names of their favorite players, further increasing fan engagement. The Lions will debut this new jersey format in a match against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, which will serve as a precursor to their nine-game tour in Australia.
While the introduction of names on jerseys marks a significant change for the Lions, another proposed innovation—a golden-point extra time rule—has been dismissed. Rugby Australia had suggested implementing a sudden-death format to prevent a repeat of the 2017 series draw against New Zealand. However, the Lions have opted to maintain the traditional rules, meaning that any Test match that remains tied after the standard 80 minutes will end in a draw. This adherence to the conventional rules, combined with the new jersey format, reflects both a respect for rugby tradition and an adaptation to modern fan expectations as the Lions prepare for a challenging series in Australia.
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