British and Irish Lions vs Japan rugby: Live stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time, teams for 1888 Cup match

AFTER months of uncertainty, the British and Irish Lions have confirmation that their tour will be held in South Africa.

But before they head out to face the Springboks, the Lions host Japan at Murrayfield.

Warren Gatland is looking to maintain his record of never having lost a tour as Lions head coach, following a series win in Australia and a draw in New Zealand.

What time does Lions vs Japan kick off?

  • The British and Irish Lions take on Japan on Saturday, June 26.
  • The match kicks off at 3pm UK time – 11pm in Japan.
  • It will be held at Murrayfield, Edinburgh.

What TV channel is Lions vs Japan on and can I live stream it?

  • The British and Irish Lions vs Japan will be shown live on Channel 4.
  • Coverage commences at 2.15pm – 45 minutes before kick-off.
  • To stream the game live, head to All4.

Can I watch Lions vs Japan for free?

  • Yes. for the first time in almost 30 years the British and Irish Lions are on terrestrial TV.
  • Channel 4 is free for all UK viewers with a TV licence.

Team news

With the Gallagher Premiership final taking place this weekend and Saracens defeating Ealing in last weekend's Championship final, no English players have been named in the Lions' starting line-up.

Japan: Ryohei Yamanaka; Kotaro Matsushima, Timothy Lafaele, Ryoto Nakamura, Siosaia Fifita; Yu Tamura, Kaito Shigeno; Keita Inagaki, Atsushi Sakate, Ji-won Koo, Wimpie van der Walt, James Moore, Michael Leitch (captain), Lappies Labuschagne, Amanaki Mafi.

Replacements: Kosuke Horikoshi, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Jack Cornelsen, Kazuki Himeno, Tevita Tatafu, Naoto Saito, Rikiya Matsuda.

Latest odds

British and Irish Lions 1/10

Draw 50/1

Japan 6/1

* Odds from Betfred correct as of Tuesday, June 22

Bet £5, get £20 in free bets

  • Giacomo Pisa

    IN THE BUILDING

    Warren Gatland and his British and Irish Lions side arrive at Murrayfield ahead of this afternoon's clash against Japan.

    Credit: Getty
    Credit: Getty
  • Giacomo Pisa

    OUT OF ACTION

    Japan have also been out of action for a lengthy period of time.

    The Brave Blossoms were last in action almost two years ago in their World Cup quarter final on home soil.

    They went down 26-3 that day to eventual winners South Africa, although their route to the quarter-final included historic wins against both Ireland and Scotland.

  • Giacomo Pisa

    STAT ATTACK

    The British and Irish Lions return to action this afternoon for the first time in 1,449 DAYS.

    2017 was the last time the Lions were in action, in a thrilling 1-1 test series draw against New Zealand.

    The final test was perhaps the most dramatic of the lot, ending in a 15-15 draw.

  • Giacomo Pisa

    SCHEDULE

    Today's game against Japan at Murrayfield is the first of an action packed summer of rugby for the Lions, culminating in a three test series against World Champions South Africa.

    LIONS TOUR SCHEDULE 2021

    • Saturday 3 July: Emirates Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
    • Wednesday 7 July: Cell C Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
    • Saturday 10 July: Vodacom Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
    • Wednesday 14 July: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 20h00 (SAT) / 19h00 (BST)
    • Saturday 17 July: DHL Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
    • Saturday 24 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1 st Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
    • Saturday 31 July: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2 nd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)
    • Saturday 7 Aug: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3 rd Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) KO 18h00 (SAT) / 17h00 (BST)

    BLOSSOMS BENCH

    These are the Japan replacements:

    16. Kosuke Horikoshi, 17. Craig Millar, 18. Asaeli Ai Valu, 19. Jack Cornelson, 20. Kazuki Himeno, 21. Tevita Tatafu, 22. Naoto Saito, 23. Rikiya Matsuda

    LIONS REPLACEMENTS

    Warren Gatland has these men to call on off the bench this afternoon:

    16. Jamie George (Saracens, England), 17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales), 18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England), 19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England), 20. Taulupe Faletau (Bath, Wales), 21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), 22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England), 23. Anthony Watson (Bath, England)

    JAPAN STARTING XV

    And this is how the Blossoms line-up for the visit to Edinburgh:

    15. Ryohei Yamanaka, 14. Kotaro Matsushima, 13. Timothy Lafaele, 12. Ryoto Nakamura, 11. Siosaia Fifita, 10. Yu Tamura, 9. Kaito Shigeno

    1. Keita Inagaki, 2. Atsushi Sakate, 3. Jiwon Koo, 4. Wimpie van der Walt, 5. James Moore, 6. Michael Leitch, 7. Lappies Labuschagne, 8. Amanaki Mafi

    LIONS STARTING XV

    Here's the starting line-up Warren Gatland has named for the Lions first warm-up game:

    15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales), 14. Josh Adams (Cardiff, Wales), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster, Ireland), 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht, Ireland), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh, Scotland), 10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales), 9. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland)

    1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh, Scotland), 2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland), 4. Iain Henderson (Ulster, Ireland), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales), 6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster, Ireland), 7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, Wales), 8. Jack Conan (Leinster, Ireland)

    GOOD AFTERNOON

    Welcome to our live blog of the British and Irish Lions vs Japan.

    It’s the first game for Warren Gatland’s Lions side as they gear up for a three test tour against World Champions South Africa which gets underway next month.

    First up though is today’s warm-up clash against Japan, a team who have not played a match in TWENTY months, since the 2019 World Cup which they hosted.

    The Lions will be cheered on by 16,500 fans at Murrayfield in Edinburgh this afternoon in what is the furthest north of the equator the Lions have ever played and the first time they have ever played in Scotland.

    Warren Gatland’s side today is a shade of what it will look like come the first test though, with the Premiership final today between Harlequins and Exeter meaning Lions players from both sides are absent this afternoon.

    It means six players are making their Lions debuts today, with Rory Sutherland, Duhan van der Merwe, Josh Adams, Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan all starting.

    No Englishman has been named in the starting fifteen this afternoon, although five out of the eight named replacements are English.

    The full team news is coming up next, with kick off at 3pm!

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