British and Irish Lions

On 6 June, Ian McGeechan's men will take on the current ABSA Currie Cup holders, the Cheetahs, two weeks before the First Test against the Springboks in Durban.

Home to who?

Also known as the Free State Stadium, Vodacom Park is not only used by Lions opposition the Free State Cheetahs, but also by the Super 14 outfit, the Central Cheetahs.

Soccer side Bloemfontein Celtic also play at the stadium, which will be one of the venues when South Africa becomes the first African nation to host the soccer World Cup in 2010.

More fans, more noise, more fun

Currently able to accommodate approximately 38,000 spectators, Vodacom Park will be undergoing substantial alterations prior to the 2009 Lions tour. A second tier will be added to the main grandstand on the western side of the ground, raising capacity to around 48,000 as the stadium prepares for what will be a high profile 12 months for South African sport. New turnstiles will be erected, floodlights will be upgraded, electronic scoreboards will be installed, and the sound system will be revamped, with CCTV and media facilities also due to be improved at a cost of R245 million (?15.4 million).

A little bit of history repeating (or at least rebuilding)

The first Free State Stadium was originally built in 1954, with Free State playing their first match at the venue two years later. When built, the stadium held permanent seats for 12,000 people, although a crowd of 72,771 witnessed the Second Test between the Springboks and the All Blacks in August 1976.

Renamed Vodacom Park prior to South Africa's clash with Wales in June 2002, the stadium as it is today was built between April 1994 and May 1995, after the original stadium was deemed no longer suitable for international matches.

Springbok stats

Although not one of the three Test venues for the 2009 tour, Vodacom Park has a proud history of international representation. The 16 Tests hosted by the stadium have witnessed 12 Springbok victories, three loses and a single draw.

South Africa's most recent appearance at Vodacom Park featured a 43-17 mauling of 2007 Six Nations Grand Slam winners Wales. Peter de Villiers' first game in charge saw the Springboks run in tries through Conrad Jantjes, Jean de Villiers, Pierre Spies and Percy Montgomery, with Butch James kicking 23 points in a convincing win.

The Lions have played two Tests at the ground, losing them both in 1962 and 1980.

Lions in Bloemfontein

P12 W8 D1 L3

1903

Orange River County 16, Lions 17

1910

Orange River County 9, Lions 12

1924

Orange Free State 6, Lions 3

1938

Orange Free State 6, Lions 21

1955

* Junior Springboks 12, Lions 15

1962

Orange Free State 14, Lions 14

South Africa 34, Lions 14 (4th Test)

1968

Orange Free State 3, Lions 9

1974

Orange Free State 9, Lions 11

1980

Orange Free State 17, Lions 21

South Africa 26, Lions 19 (2nd Test)

1997

Orange Free State 30, Lions 52

* This was the first game played at the Free State Stadium. After the two teams had taken to the field, the Administrator of the Free State, Jan Fouche, declared the stadium officially open. There were 30,000 fans at the game. Jeff Butterfield captain the Lions and the Junior Springboks were led by P Pelser.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.

See how Stuart Hogg and Adam Jones got on when they went out to have dinner at home with the Joneses of Pontypridd as part of the 'Host the Pride' community programme instigated by British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland.