Lions can bank on HSBC as they land £4m deal

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The bank will be the team's shirt sponsor for the three-Test, 10-match tour of South Africa in 2009.

When the Lions last toured, losing all three Tests against the All Blacks in 2005, they paid out nearly £2m in compensation to individual clubs, players' salaries and insurance.

That tour of New Zealand cost £6.5m to stage but the Lions still managed a "modest profit", according to their chief executive John Feehan, who is lining up a number of deals to cash in on the brand.

Feehan said: "We are delighted to welcome HSBC and look forward to a fruitful partnership and a successful tour in South Africa."

The Lions recorded a 2-1 Test series win over the Springboks in 1997, two years after their hosts had won the World Cup, and the best of the Home Unions will hope history is repeated.

David Hodgkinson, group managing director and chief operating officer of HSBC Holdings plc, said: "The British and Irish Lions are the most prestigious name in a sport that has enormous relevance to our business, clients and our people.

"We look forward to working with the British and Irish Lions committee, as well as to some fantastic rugby."

Martin Johnson, who captained the Lions to their series victory in 1997, said: "The history of the British and Irish Lions is one of the strongest in sport.

"For the next team to be facing the world champions will make it one of the greatest and most exciting tours of the modern era."

Gavin Hastings, who played in two Lions tours and captained the team in 1993, said: "The Lions tour is a special occasion. Touring as a Lion was a career highlight."

Expected 2009 Lions schedule

30 May: Highveld XV, Rustenburg

3 Jun: Golden Lions, Johannesburg

6 Jun: Free State Cheetahs, Bloemfontein

10 Jun: Blue Bulls, Pretoria

13 Jun: Western Province, Cape Town

17 Jun: Coastal XV, Port Elizabeth

20 Jun: First Test, Pretoria

23 Jun: Junior Springboks, Cape Town

27 Jun: Second Test, Durban

4 Jul: Third Test, Johannesburg