British & Irish Lions confirm that the Japan game was not an official Test

The British and Irish Lions have decided their international game against Japan this summer was not a Test match.

The clash at Murrayfield kicked off the South Africa tour on home soil on June 26. However, it has taken until November for the Lions board to decide on the match’s status.

A Lions statement read: ‘The British & Irish Lions Board can confirm The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup, this year’s pre-Tour Lions v Japan home match at BT Murrayfield on 26 June 2021, is not a Lions Test match.

‘The Lions v Japan match, which took place before the 2021 Tour to South Africa has been classed as an international fixture.

‘The fixture has been recorded on the appearance record of every player who was involved in the game and every new Lion who played in this match has been capped and awarded a Lions number.

‘To clarify, the criteria going forwards will be that Lions Test status will only be awarded to those matches played against the host Union’s national representative side (except in exceptional circumstances, to be determined by the Board at the appropriate time).’

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