spectator sport london

Dates for the Diary - London

Sport in London – June 2021

1 June Covid-19 update: A limited number of fans are permitted at events in line with the easing of national lockdown restrictions.  See below for the latest spectator updates. 

JUNE

🏏 CRICKET (M).  ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND ~ 2-6 June ~ Lord’s Cricket Ground

International cricket makes a welcome seasonal bow at Lord’s and New Zealand are the visitors for the first match in a two-Test series against England.  Having lost their last three Tests in India over the winter England – led by captain Joe Root – will be desperate to get back to winning ways against a talented Blackcaps team.  Play starts daily at 11am with five days play scheduled if the match goes the full distance | 🎟️ A limited number of single tickets for each day are available.

🏇 HORSE RACING.  THE CAZOO DERBY FESTIVAL ~ 4-5 June ~ Epsom Downs Racecourse

They’re under starters orders in Epsom for the Cazoo Epsom Derby Festival, a highlight on the UK horse racing calendar.  Oaks Day on Friday kicks off the first of two days of highly anticipated action at Epsom and Santa Barbara – currently at 6/4 – is the favourite among the fillies to take the big prize on the opening day of the festival.  On Saturday all eyes will be on the colts for Derby Day.  2020 saw Serpentine take the derby spoils providing trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record-breaking eighth victory.  Bolshei Ballet is the 2021 favourite with High Definition, Mac Sweeney and John Leeper all aiming to spoil the party.  Who will be the next horse to join a roll of honour that includes equine legends such as Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Shergar, Galileo and Sea The Stars? | 🎟️ Tickets are sold out. 

🏏 CRICKET

(W).  RACHEL HEYHOE FLINT TROPHY: SOUTH EAST STARS V WESTERN STORM ~ Saturday 5 June ~ The Kia Oval

The Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy returns in 2021 after its inaugural season last year.  It marks the start of a historic summer of women’s cricket that also includes a brand new format, The Hundred (starting on 21 July), where world-class action featuring women’s and men’s matches will take equal billing.  Before that the eight regional hubs in English domestic cricket are set to compete across the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy (50-over matches) and a T20 competition.  South East Stars are London’s representatives and after defeat in their opening fixture against Southern Vipers the Stars will be looking to get a win under their belts when taking on Western Storm at The Oval on Saturday 5 June | 🎟️ Spectating is free.

(M).  VITALITY BLAST: MIDDLESEX & SURREY HOME MATCHES ~ 10 June onwards ~ Lord’s & The Kia Oval

The Vitality T20 Blast is back for another high octane season of 20-over cricket.  Featuring some of the world’s best players the London action starts with a derby match between Middlesex and Surrey at Lord’s on Thursday 10 June.  Limited tickets are available, see link below.  A busy month of June action continues into July and August with Blast Finals day scheduled to take place at Edgbaston on Saturday 18 September | 🎟️ Visit the Lord’s website to check on ticket availability for Middlesex.  For matches at The Oval see the Surrey website.

🏉 RUGBY LEAGUE (M).  CHAMPIONSHIP & LEAGUE ONE ~ 12 June onwards ~ The Rock & New River Stadium MATCHES CURRENTLY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

A new Championship season continues with the capital’s top side, London Broncos, looking to put a winning streak together that will see them push for promotion back to Super League where they last played in 2019.  Broncos are currently fifth in the table and welcome Whitehaven to their temporary home at Rosslyn Park RFC – known as ‘The Rock’ – on 20 June with Swinton Lions the visitors to south-west London the following Saturday.  The Broncos have been buoyed of late by news their application to ground share at the new 9,300 capacity Plough Lane Stadium has been approved, and they are due to move to their new home shortly.  In League One the capitals representatives are London Skolars who take on Hunslet at New River Stadium on 12 June ahead of a visit from Barrow Raiders on 19 June  | 🎟️ Visit the Broncos and Skolars websites for the latest ticket news.

🏐 NETBALL.  VITALITY NETBALL SUPERLEAGUE ~ 13 June onwards ~ Copper Box Arena 

The 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague season reaches a finale this month with the remaining fixtures – Rounds 19 & 20 – of the regular season, followed by the play-off semi-finals and final.  The top tier of UK club netball features eleven elite teams from England, Scotland and Wales including newcomers Leeds Rhinos.  Due to Covid-19 all matches are currently taking place at the Copper Box Arena which during a regular season is the home venue for London Pulse.  Surrey Storm and Saracens Mavericks are the other sides based within easy reach of the capital and it’s Mavericks who are faring best with a top-four finish (and with it a place in the play-offs) within their grasp.  Top of the table Team Bath Netball, along with Loughborough Lightning and Manchester Thunder, are set to fill the other three play-off places | 🎟️ Limited tickets – on a match-by-match basis – are available.

⚽️ FOOTBALL (M).  UEFA EURO 2020 ~ 13 June onwards ~ Wembley Stadium

The waiting is over for EURO 2020 and all eyes will be on Wembley Stadium on Sunday 13 June for England’s opening match in Group D against Croatia.  How England would love a winning start to set them up for an eagerly anticipated Auld Enemy showdown on the evening of Friday 18 June against Scotland.  The final match in the group sees England take on Czech Republic on Tuesday 22 June, also at the national stadium.  The prize for the team finishing top of Group D is a last-16 clash at Wembley against the the runners-up in Group F on Tuesday 29 June | 🎟️ Tickets are sold out. 

🎾 TENNIS (M).  cinch CHAMPIONSHIPS ~ 14-20 June ~ The Queen’s Club 

The serene surroundings of the Queen’s Club in West Kensington is the venue for this men’s professional ATP World Tour event.  Always a key tournament in the lead up to Wimbledon expect a stellar cast of the world’s best players to be on court at the cinch Championships aiming to win the coveted trophy previously held aloft by the likes of Rafael Nadal, John McEnroe, Lleyton Hewitt and Marin Cilic.  Already confirmed for 2021 are five-time singles champion Andy Murray, British No.1 Dan Evans and 2017 doubles champion Jamie Murray, together with previous singles champions Feliciano Lopez and Grigor Dimitrov | 🎟️ Visit the LTA website for the latest ticket news.

🏇 HORSE RACING.  ROYAL ASCOT ~ 15-19 June ~ Ascot Racecourse

One of the most anticipated events on the British summer’s sporting and social calendar Royal Ascot returns, and after the 2020 event took place behind closed doors this year there has been welcome news that a capacity of 12,000 guests will be allowed on each day.  Attracting some of the world’s best horse, trainers and jockeys, and with £6 million in prize money at stake, five days of memorable racing is guaranteed at this famous course where horse racing has taken place since 1711 | 🎟️ A limited number of Queen Anne Enclosure tickets and Royal Enclosure Badges are available to purchase..   

🚣‍♀️🚣‍♂️🚣 ROWING.  2020 DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE RACE ~ Friday 25 June ~ River Thames 

Stand by for a piece of sporting history on the River Thames in the shape of the 306th running of the annual Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager.   The oldest rowing race in the world, this afternoon’s running of the Doggett’s Race is delayed from 2020 with the 2021 race scheduled for 8 September.  The race – first started in 1715 – is a gruelling test of the participants’ knowledge of the river and sporting prowess taking place between London Bridge and Cadogan Pier (Chelsea) over a 4 mile 7 furlong (7,400 metre) course that takes in 11 bridges.  The race starts at 2pm by London Bridge | 🎟️ Spectating is free on the routes.

🏉 RUGBY UNION (M).  GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP FINAL ~ Saturday 26 June ~ Twickenham Stadium

 A long season of top tier club rugby – featuring the twelve best club sides in England – reaches a finale this afternoon when the last two teams standing go head-to-head over 80 minutes to decide who will be crowned 2020/2021 champions.  Exeter Chiefs are looking good to defend the title they won last November when beating Wasps 19-13, the Chiefs currently second in the table.  However leaders Bristol Bears, and Sale Sharks and Harlequins (in third and fourth place respectively) all look threatening.  The top four at the end of the regular season contest the play-off semi-finals with the winners progressing to the Gallagher Premiership Final at Twickenham Stadium this afternoon | 🎟️ For the latest ticket news see the Premiership Rugby website. 

🏎️ MOTORACING. KWIK FIT BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP ~ 26-27 June ~ Brands Hatch

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Brands Hatch on the full Grand Prix circuit with a weekend of packed grid of race-prepared saloon cars set to battle for chequered flag superiority across three headline races.  Featuring the top racing drivers on the domestic UK scene the showpiece BTCC races are complemented by a full support programme including some of the country’s leading one-make sports, saloon and single-seater series | 🎟️ Tickets on are sale.  Should Covid restrictions prevent the admittance of spectators credit or full refund is guaranteed.

🎾 TENNIS.  WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS ~ 28 June-11 July ~ All England Lawn Tennis Club  

A jewel in the crown of the British sporting summer tennis returns to the hallowed turf of the All England Club for the 134th edition of the Wimbledon Championships.  Tickets for The Championship 2021 are due to be made available via an online sale expected to commence in mid-June.  All tickets will then be distributed via the official Wimbledon mobile Apps for iOS and Android.  No queue will be in operation this year | 🎟️ Check the Wimbledon website for the latest news on sale dates.

Stay tuned for the latest news on the return of spectator-friendly action in the London area as it breaks … and for regular updates on the best action direct to your fingertips sign up now to our free newsletter.

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