The British and Irish Lions will play 10 matches on their tour of South Africa next year - including three Tests against the Springboks.

Durban's ABSA Park will host the first Test against the world champions on 20 June, followed by Tests in Pretoria (27 June) and Johannesburg (4 July).

The first game of the six-week tour will be against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg on 30 May.

A match against the Emerging Springboks will be played in Cape Town on 23 June.

The first game of the tour takes place the same day as the Guinness Premiership final at Twickenham.

And with the second match against the Golden Lions just four days later, a number of leading players may miss the first two fixtures.

The issue was discussed at a preliminary meeting of the new Professional Game Board, the body that will officially take over the running of elite rugby in England from 1 July, on Thursday.

The board is made up of representatives from the Rugby Football Union and clubs' organisation Premier Rugby, both of whom are said to be "working hard with the Lions and other parties to find a solution".

"We are looking forward to touring such a wonderful country and playing the world champions on their own turf," said Lions chairman Andy Irvine in Cape Town.

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"The tour itself promises to be full of challenges in a country where rugby is a real passion but I am certain that the 2009 Lions will acquit themselves well."

Jonathan Stones, managing director of SA Rugby, believes the tour could prove to be as successful as the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was held in South Africa.

"The Lions tour will be a massive sporting event, on a par with the Rugby World Cup, and is expected to be a huge success. We are putting in place an exciting programme and look forward to hosting this unique team," he stated.

"It is anticipated that South Africa will reap significant economic benefits from this tour."

The Lions - who suffered a humiliating 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand in 2005 - have not won a Test series since the 2-1 triumph over the Springboks in 1997.

Meanwhile, the Lions hope to announce their head coach for the tour by the middle of next month, with Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan favourite for the role.

Tour fixtures:

30 May: Highveld XV; Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg
3 June: Golden Lions; Ellis Park, Johannesburg
6 June: Cheetahs; Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
10 June: Sharks; ABSA Park, Durban
13 June: Western Province; Newlands, Cape Town
16/17 June: Coastal XV; Port Elizabeth (Venue to be confirmed)
20 June: South Africa(first Test); ABSA Park, Durban
23 June: Emerging Springboks; Newlands, Cape Town
27 June: South Africa (second Test); Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4 July: South Africa (third Test); Ellis Park, Johannesburg