1
British and Irish Lions: Nine fixtures confirmed for 2025 tour
By Liam Heagney
A nine-match schedule has been confirmed by the British and Irish Lions for their 2025 tour in Australia. The itinerary is made up of a three-Test series versus Eddie Jones’ Wallabies, a pre-first Test clash against an invitational Australian and New Zealand XV as well as games against all five of Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific teams. Before arriving in Australia for those nine matches, the Lions will also play a pre-tour warm-up fixture against a yet-to-be-announced opposition.
ADVERTISEMENT
A statement read: “The British and Irish Lions have released the nine-match schedule for the 2025 Tour to Australia, including three Test matches against the Wallabies that will take place on July 19, July 26 and August 2 in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
“The Lions will begin the tour in Perth against the Western Force before facing fellow Australian Super Rugby Pacific sides, the Queensland Reds, the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies. They will then continue their preparation for the first Test by facing an invitational Australian and New Zealand team in Adelaide.
“Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host the first Test followed by a midweek fixture against the Melbourne Rebels before the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). A potential sell-out crowd of 100,000 would be a record for a British and Irish Lions Test and also represent one of the highest attendances in history at a rugby match. The final Test will then be played in Sydney.
“A strong partnership and a common goal between the British and Irish Lions, Premiership Rugby and the URC has resulted in the Lions having a two-week preparation period before the tour commences. Further detail around pre-tour activities, including a pre-tour warm-up fixture, will be announced at a later stage.”
Lions CEO Ben Calveley said: “We are delighted to announce the tour schedule as we look ahead to what is to be one of the most eagerly anticipated series in history. I want to take the opportunity to thank Rugby Australia for the strong level of collaboration in planning for this tour and we look forward to continuing to work with them over the next two years.
“I would also like to thank Premiership Rugby and the URC whose cooperation has resulted in the longest preparation period for a tour in recent history and gives us the best possible chance of a series victory.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh added: “The British and Irish Lions tour is one of the great sporting festivals – it is a real landmark of Australian and world sport. Rugby Australia is looking forward to welcoming back the Lions for the first time in 12 years, as well as the tens of thousands of Lions fans from the northern hemisphere.
“It is an exciting fixture of matches all around the country with the Lions taking on our Super Rugby franchises, three massive Test matches, and a marquee match in Adelaide featuring a combined invitational Australia-New Zealand side.”
2025 Lions tour to Australia
June 28: vs Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium);
July 2: vs Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium);
July 5: vs NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium);
July 9: vs ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium);
July 12: vs Invitational AU and NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval);
July 19: 1st Test vs Wallabies, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium);
July 22: vs Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium);
July 26: 2nd Test vs Wallabies, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground);
Aug 2: 3rd Test vs Wallabies, Sydney (Accor Stadium).
