Lions tour 2017

He started off playing football and went to his first rugby training in a Manchester United playing kit but now Kyle Sinckler is a Lion and loving it.

The man steering the British and Irish Lions series around the country says the South Island will have two bites at the cherry with the tourists.

This is the first crack at an opponent Waisake Naholo wants to get to know very well.

It may be only 80 minutes. But for both teams it could shape their next few weeks.

Forget the Lions - right now it's all about Samoa for the All Blacks, according to key playmaker Beauden Barrett.

Alex Ainley may be 35 but he is running around like a pig in a rather stinky substance.

It is amazing what a win can do.

A match-predicting octopus might not be necessary for this Lions tour if Cromwell boy Ben Griffith’s (9) confident forecast for tomorrow’s Dunedin match proves true.

Lions loosie James Haskell was not giving away any game plans for the team’s match against the Highlanders tomorrow — but we did get an insight into his love life.

There is buzz and there is excitement and little fear as the Highlanders prepare to take on the British and Irish Lions tomorrow night.

The Highlanders have named their side to take on the British and Irish Lions, with nine players unavailable for selection.

Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa is in no rush to make a decision on his future and no overseas offers are said to be on the table.

North Otago will test itself against some real high-fliers tomorrow afternoon.

Now the dust has settled on the All Blacks and Maori All Blacks announcement, the Highlanders can get into their work, knowing who can and who cannot front for the side on Tuesday.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen did the Highlanders  — and their fans — a favour yesterday in naming his 33-strong All Black squad.

Otago rugby fans will get their first real  glimpses of the British and Irish Lions on Sunday, when the team arrives at Dunedin Airport.