New Zealand is braced to host what will be the biggest rugby event in its history. For the first time since 2005, the British and Irish Lions will be in rugby's spiritual home, bringing more than 30,000 supporters with them. The 10-game schedule will put rugby at the forefront of the country's media agenda and NZ Rugby World will lead the way with this 116 page souvenir edition. This Lions' Tour Souvenir Issue provides avid and casual followers with everything they need to know: insight into the players in the teams, analysis of their respective strengths and weaknesses, compelling story-telling about previous tours, expert contributions, exclusive interviews and ultimately a magazine that New Zealanders and visiting fans will treasure.

Editor’s letter

BEST LIONS v ALL BLACKS PHOTOS

THE ULTIMATECHALLENGE • A LIONS TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN WORLD RUGBY. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO BOTH TEAMS. GREGOR PAUL REPORTS.

RESTORING THE LIONS PRIDE • AS MUCH AS NEW ZEALANDERS LOVE HOSTING THE LIONS, THE COLD, HARD TRUTH IS THAT RESPECT FOR THE COMBINED TEAM IS IN SHORT SUPPLY. TO WIN IT BACK, THE LIONS NEED TO PROVE THEY ARE A FORCE WORTH TAKING SERIOUSLY. GREGOR PAUL WITH THE STORY.

LIONS IN NEW ZEALAND

STAMPING HIS MARK • KIERAN READ, IN HIS SECOND SEASON AS ALL BLACKS CAPTAIN, WANTS HIS TEAM TO BUILD THEIR OWN LEGACY. PATRICK McKENDRY REPORTS.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST • THE 2005 LIONS TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND WAS A DISASTER. IT’S ONLY REDEEMING FEATURE IS THAT IT HAS BECOME THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW NOT TO DO THINGS. GREGOR PAUL WITH THE STORY.

LIONS CAN’T GET CARTER

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE • THE LIONS WILL LEAVE HOME FULL OF OPTIMISM AS ALWAYS BUT RICHARD BATH POINTS OUT A FEW SHORTCOMINGS IN THEIR SQUAD.

RED  ALERT • THE LAST LIONS SERIES CAME WITH A FAIR BIT OF CONTROVERSY. THE CHANCES ARE HIGHER THAT THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN 2017. GREGOR PAUL WITH THE STORY.

THE 2017 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD

10 WAYS FOR LIONS TO ROAR • THERE IS NO MAGIC BULLET THAT THE LIONS CAN REACH FOR TO BEAT THE ALL BLACKS. ACCORDING TO RICHARD BATH THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 THINGS THE VISITORS WILL HAVE TO GET RIGHT IF THEY ARE TO WIN THE SERIES.

THE LONG WAIT • JEROME KAINO WAS HOPEFUL HE WOULD PLAY A TEST AGAINST THE LIONS IN 2005, BUT INJURY AND LIMITED FORM IN SUPER RUGBY SAW HIM MISS OUT. THE BRUISING ALL BLACKS NO 6 ISN’T LIKELY TO MISS OUT THIS TIME ROUND. PATRICK MCKENDRY WITH THE STORY.

OPEN SEASON • FROM HAVING ONE CLEAR BEST OPTION AT HALFBACK, THE ALL BLACKS NOW HAVE GENUINE COMPETITION FOR THEIR NUMBER NINE JERSEY. LIAM NAPIER REPORTS.

BALL WINNERS • EVEN IN THESE MODERN TIMES IT REMAINS TRUE THAT TEAMS CAN’T WIN TESTS WITHOUT THE BALL. BOTH THE LIONS AND ALL BLACKS HAVE A NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO KNOW HOW TO KEEP POSSESSION.

THE UNLIKELY LION • JOHNNY SEXTON WASN’T ON THE PATH TO STARDOM AS A TEENAGER AND NO ONE PREDICTED HE WOULD MAKE IT AS FAR AS HE HAS. THAT GLIMPSE AT THE REAL WORLD HAS HELPED MAKE HIM THE PLAYER HE IS WRITES MALACHY CLERKIN.

SWEET REVENGE

WHEN THE LIONS ROARED • THE LIONS HAVE ENJOYED ONE SERIES WIN IN NEW ZEALAND. IT WAS IN 1971 WHEN THEY BROUGHT A MAGICAL TEAM AND ONE OF THE GREATEST COACHES IN HISTORY. LYNN McCONNELL REPORTS.

THE PLAY MAKERS • A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE SERIES WILL BE HOW BOTH SIDES USE THEIR POSSESSION AND HOW EFFECTIVELY THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THEIR RESPECTIVE ATTACKING GAMES. WE LOOK AT THE LIKELY KEY PLAYMAKERS.

THE FINISHERS • THE SERIES, AS ALWAYS, WILL COME DOWN TO CAPITALISING ON HALF CHANCES. THE FINISHING POWER OF BOTH TEAMS WILL COME UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY.

KINGS OF THE GAME • THE LAST TIME THE LIONS CAME TO NEW ZEALAND THEY WERE OUTPLAYED AT THE TACKLED BALL AREA....