The first picture of the British and Irish Lions rugby shirt for next summer’s three-Test tour to Australia has been revealed, according to Luke Benedict of the London DAILY MAIL. The adidas shirt "features a collar for the first time since the victorious South Africa tour of '97 -- incidentally the last time the Lions won a series." Although similar to the collarless shirt worn on the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa, the "more traditional neck line has been chosen to mark the 125-year anniversary of the Lions." Coach Warren Gatland "will name his back-room staff in Edinburgh next month." Wales defense coach Shaun Edwards is "expected to be part of that line-up," but the other positions are "up for grabs." Gatland said last month that he would "be taking a position between continuity and freshness." Gatland: ''One of the things we learned from 2009 and Lions as a concept is that for it to be successful you want some continuity" (DAILY MAIL, 10/29). The London TELEGRAPH reported that the Lions will play 10 games, with nine in Australia and one in Hong Kong. The tour begins with a meeting with the Hong Kong Barbarians June 1 and also features games against all five Australian Super 15 franchises (TELEGRAPH, 10/30).
