Its every 4 years when the Lions either tour Aust, Nz, and SA. Next tour to Nz in 2017 and then SA etc, How long this Lions concept will go on is anybodys guess with a RWC every 2 years before or after a Lions tour plus a yearly 6th Nations comp and a long UK club comps. Time schedules and player availabilities could possibly make Lions tours very different in the future. Maybe just 3 test matches and no provincial warm up games may well be the reality. Lions critics have questioned the merits of provincal games on this current tour and how Wallaby players are removed from these teams meaning a lack of real hard competition for a large 30-35 Lions touring squad. Look for some big changes to the playing itinerary when the Lions tour Nz in 2017.
They do play both South Africa and New Zealand but they don't go from Australia to NZ or SA. They have full tours in different years, every four years.
Bill P. is right. The practise varied more in the amateur era when the Lions went on tour, but in more recent years it is a regular schedule. They tour one of the SANZAR countries every four years on rotating basis. New Zealand in 2005, South Africa in 2009, Australia in 2013. Come 2017 it will be New Zealand's turn again.
