The British & Irish Lions have announced that they will play a three-test series against New Zealand, including two meetings at Eden Park in Auckland, during a 10-match '17 tour. Apart from the series, the Lions will also face all five New Zealand Super Rugby teams, plus the New Zealand Maori. The five-week trip will "open against a provincial union side" in Whangarei on June 3, 2017. The Test series starts in Auckland on June 24, before the Lions and All Blacks meet in Wellington seven days later and then return to Eden Park for a July 8 finale. Six games are scheduled before the first Test, including against Super Rugby opponents the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Chiefs (PA, 7/10). ... The draw has been held for the fourth edition of FIBA Africa U16 Championship for Women. Tunisia faced Angola in the first game of the tournament on Saturday. The 10 countries are divided into two groups of 5 teams each: Group A includes Madagascar, Morocco, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Group B includes Mali, Mozambique, Angola, Rwanda and Tunisia (FIBA). ... Cricket Australia has "shaved three days off this summer's Big Bash League tournament without sacrificing any matches by embracing the concept of double-headers" across different states. Rather than being run over a full seven weeks, the tournament will be completed within 39 days, which will "slightly expedite the return of the Sheffield Shield, timely given Australia's summer will end with Tests in New Zealand." After one double-header last season there will be four this season. The season will begin with the Sydney derby, at the Thunder's new home of Spotless Stadium (THE AGE, 7/11). ... The Philippines has agreed to host the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after the two other countries next in line, Brunei and Vietnam, declined. Brunei, which was scheduled for the '19 edition, "asked to pass due to 'organisational reasons.'" Vietnam, the '21 hosts, "also declined so the federation offered the event to the Philippines" (AFP, 7/12).
