The traditional black lion statues on the terrace at Teddington's Lensbury Club have received a temporary makeover for the arrival of the British and Irish Lions rugby squad.

The two statues have been painted bright red to match the Lions' shirts.

The squad, which will be announced this Thursday by coach Warren Gatland, have an 'administration' day at the Lensbury in late May.

On the day, players will try on their kit and their tour suits and carry out media interviews for the tour's commercial partners.

Despite the Club's first-class facilities which provide a training headquarters for the England team, the squad will not be training there, no doubt leaving Lensbury members and staff disappointed.

Instead, the squad will have pre-tour training camp in Jersey before flying out to South Africa for the three Test matches.

This weekend, England's scrum-half Ben Youngs announced he would not join the squad despite receiving a 'save the date' invite from the coach.

Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones is expected to be named as captain.

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The Lions are due to play their first warm up match against Japan in Edinburgh on June 26 and will play three Test Matches against South Africa without visiting fans in Johannesburg and Cape Town in late July early August.

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England rugby to be based at the Lensbury in Teddington

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