Resuscitated rugby alliance Lions to visit New Zealand, PNG

Rugby association's Great Britain and Ireland Lions will visit without precedent for over 10 years when they travel to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea not long from now, authorities said Tuesday.

The composite group from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland will play a two-test arrangement against the Kiwis and erratic matches against Tonga and PNG, the Rugby League International Federation said.

It will be the main Lions visit since 2006, restoring a convention that started in 1910.

Australian Wayne Bennett, the present England tutor, will mentor the side.

"I've trained against them in the past with Australia, and wherever you're from in the realm of rugby class, that Great Britain shirt is a renowned one," he said.

The Lions – not to be mistaken for rugby association's British and Irish Lions – will confront Tonga in Hamilton, New Zealand, on October 26, the Kiwis on November 2 in Auckland and November 9 in Christchurch, at that point PNG in Port Moresby on November 16.