BBC lands UK rights to Great Britain and Irish Lions’ rugby league tour

UK public broadcaster the BBC has acquired exclusive rights in the country to the Great Britain and Irish Lions rugby league team’s four autumn Test matches, the team’s first fixtures for 12 years.

The matches take place in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea on consecutive Saturdays between October 26 and November 16. They include two against New Zealand and one each against Tonga and Papua New Guinea.

The BBC will show all matches live as well as extended highlights later in the day.

The broadcaster bought the rights from the Rugby Football League, the governing body for professional rugby league in England.

The four matches are the first the Lions have played since 2007 when the team was disbanded after beating New Zealand.

The BBC holds rights to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup to be held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.