The three-part documentary series will be shown in Ireland on Virgin Media Four, as part of the new channel’s launch

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The British & Irish Lions in conjunction with The South African Rugby Union has released a three-part behind-the-scenes documentary of the 2021 British & Irish Lions Series, which will be aired in Ireland on Virgin Media’s Virgin Media Four channel.

The documentary series Two Sides explores what happened in the Springbok and Lions camps during the 2021 Tour of South Africa. It first aired on ITV1 earlier this year.

This is the latest in a series of Lions Tour documentaries that includes the well-received Living with Lions, which was released 25 years ago.

Two Sides steps away from the traditional format, which has always concentrated on the tourists, and tells the stories of the Lions and Springboks during the first Tour to South Africa in over a decade.

The Tour was successfully completed against the hugely challenging backdrop of a global pandemic and the documentary features fly-on-the-wall footage.

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The three hour-long episodes of Two Sides, produced by Whisper and T + W, will be shown on Virgin Media Four, as part of the channel’s launch.

Episode one will be shown on Wednesday 24 August at 9pm, episode two on Wednesday 31 August at 9pm and Episode three on Wednesday 7 September at 9pm.

Ben Calveley, British & Irish Lions managing director, said: “We are delighted to give our fans in Ireland the opportunity to watch this brilliant documentary series. The British & Irish Lions and documentaries are inextricably linked. Going back to 1997 with the unforgettable Living with Lions, the Lions have produced a documentary capturing behind-the-scenes moments of every subsequent Tour. This particular documentary shows how both sides rose to the unprecedented challenge of hosting a major sporting event during a global pandemic and I’m sure Lions fans in Ireland will really enjoy it.”

South African Rugby Union CEO, Jurie Roux, added: “I know rugby fans are going to find this documentary fascinating and entertaining in equal measure, with the added twist this time of getting a fly-on-the-wall view of both camps involved in this unique tour. We are delighted to partner with The British & Irish Lions on Two Sides, which will act as a wonderful archive for rugby fans to look back upon for decades to come.”