Johannesburg - The Lions kick off their Super Rugby campaign in 2017 in February against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and host the Waratahs the next weekend (March 4) for their first home game of the season.
They take to the air in Week 3 for their fixture (March 11) in Buenos Aires against the Jaguares (11.40pm SA time). The Lions will then wait until Week 10 before their tour to Australia takes place where they will face the Force, Rebels and Brumbies in that order. Coming back they will have to get ready to host the Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on May 20 and a week later they will have to gear up for a Sunday encounter (May 28) when they host the Kings.
Another first the Lions in 2017 will be hosting the Japanese outfit, the Sunwolves. That encounter is scheduled for July 1.
It will be the second season for the 17-round, four conference tournament structure that sees each team play 15 matches and have two byes.
As in 2016, each team will play six matches within its own conference and nine matches against other conference teams.
The 2017 June Test window, and in particular the British & Irish Lions series in New Zealand, has an impact on the match schedule. Fixtures in early June and July have therefore been scheduled around the various June Tests and the matches between the British & Irish Lions and the five New Zealand Super Rugby teams.
2017 Lions fixtures: Feb 25: Cheetahs vs Emirates Lions (Bloemfontein, 3.05pm) March 4 : Emirates Lions vs Waratahs (Emirates Airline Park, 3.05pm) March 11: Jaguares vs Emirates Lions (Buenos Aires, 11.40pm) March 18: Emirates Lions vs Reds (Emirates Airline Park, 5.15pm) March 25: Kings vs Emirates Lions (Port Elizabeth, 3.05pm) 1 April: Emirates Lions vs Sharks (Emirates Airline Park, 5.15pm) Bye weekend April 15: Stormers vs Emirates Lions (Cape Town, 5.15pm) April 21: Emirates Lions vs Jaguares (Emirates Airline Park, 8pm) April 29: Force vs Emirates Lions (Perth, 1.55pm) May 6: Rebels vs Emirates Lions (Melbourne, 7am) May 12: Brumbies vs Emirates Lions (Canberra, 11:45am) May 20: Emirates Lions vs Bulls (Emirates Airline Park, 5.15pm) 28 May: Emirates Lions vs Kings (Emirates Airline Park, 2.30pm) International break July 1: Emirates Lions vs Sunwolves (Emirates Airline Park 2.30pm) Bye weekend July 15: Sharks vs Emirates Lions (Durban, 5.15pm) Super Rugby Qualifiers: Friday, July 21 Friday, July 21 Saturday, July 22 Saturday, July 22 Super Rugby semifinals: Friday, July 28, Saturday, July 29 Super Rugby Final:Saturday August 5.
African News Agency (ANA)