British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland plumps for warm-up match against Barbarians before South Africa tour

The Lions are poised to finalize plans on Thursday for a fixture against the Barbarians at Twickenham, before their tour of South Africa next summer. Rugby fans can book British And Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

A meeting in London is about to ratify arrangements for Warren Gatland's British and Irish side to face the famous invitational club.

Recent reports had indicated that Japan was potential opponents and Sports mail understands that certain members of the Lions, hierarchy were keen to pursue this feature.

However, sources have indicated that Gatland sees a game against the free-running Barbarians as a far better thanks to launching preparations for a three-Test series against the Springboks.

The Kiwi former head coach of Wales, who guided the Lions to a 2-1 victory over Australia in 2013 and a 1-1 draw with the All Blacks in 2017, has been frustrated by the shortage of co-operation from Premiership Rugby, who have refused to stage their final every week earlier in 2021.

England's national stadium is going to be the venue for the Premiership Final on June 26 next year - every week before the Lions face the Stormers in Cape Town. Rugby fans can book British And Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

It emerged earlier this month that the Scottish Rugby Union was pushing for Murray field to host the encounter, while Cardiff's Principality Stadium had been identified as a choice.

But it's understood that officials within the Welsh capital are prioritizing the staging of concerts at that point of the year, while the Lions have a preference for London over Edinburgh.

In 1977, the Lions took on the Barbarians at Twickenham to mark the Queen's jubilee and faced the international club again in Hong Kong in 2013 before arriving in Australia.

Home matches are rare for British and Irish touring team, although Sir Clive Woodward's Lions drew with Argentina in Cardiff before their ill-fated crusade to New Zealand in 2005.

Gatland is mindful of the pressing need for match practice for his players, as next year's tour is going to be the shortest in history, featuring only eight fixtures in South Africa.

Besides, he's likely to call upon several Saracens stars, who are going to be chronically in need of elite-level games after a season within the Championship.

Meanwhile, Ireland prop Cian Healy will miss the rest of the Iroquois League with the hip problem he sustained in Saturday's 24-12 defeat by England. Healy was forced off within the half with an injury described as a jarred hip following a scan.

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