USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville has confirmed that USA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions are in discussion about having the Lions play in the USA in June of 2017.

The story on this was originally run by the Guardian in the UK, but Goff Rugby Report independently confirmed the details. The Lions are interested in getting a pre-tour game, just as they did in Hong Kong in 2013.

The Lions have specific needs for the game: that it raise the profile of the global brand of the British & Irish Lions; it’s a good warmup game for the New Zealand tour; and it helped develop the game globally.

“If those are the criteria, then they should come here,” Melville told Goff Rugby Report. “And in addition, they would be able to play a full national team, rather than a barbarian side. We don’t have a Tier I tour in 2017, so this would be our Tier I game.”

The Lions haven’t decided yet whether they will play the Eagles in the United States, but it seems an excellent option for them. They can break up the long trip to New Zealand, take a few days to stretch their legs, and play a game. Meanwhile, the fixture itself has the potential to be attractive to fans.

“There are a lot of fans who never get the chance to see the Lions play in person,” said Melville. “They could, in this case, travel to the States, see the Lions play, and go home, rather than go all the way to New Zealand.”

USA Rugby has a venue in mind for the game, although Melville did not say what it is. It will, however, have to be a big venue. If you think of a place that has generally pleasant weather in June, is a hub for non-stop flights to New Zealand, and has a top-flight stadium with a rugby-sized pitch, then you might be thinking Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

San Francisco would be a perfect stopover to break up the journey from the UK to New Zealand. 

USA Rugby sold out Soldier Field on November 1 when they played the All Blacks. Other rugby nations are now reportedly interested in a similar game in the USA, with major teams that tour Europe in the fall, such as South Africa and Australia, being logical candidates. However, some European teams might be interested, too.

The June, 2017 visit from the Lions is a little different, but not much, and could well come off.