The British and Irish Lions Tour is a prestigious rugby tournament that occurs after every four years. The tournament is made up of the best rugby players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The tour is famous for the tough competition although it unites the players and the fans from the traditional rivalling countries to the Southern Hemisphere to tour against Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.
A Brief History
The British & Irish Lions began in 1888 with a British team touring Australia and New Zealand, laying the foundation for future tours. Rivalries in Rugby between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere continued from the first test series in 1891.
In the beginning, based on figuring a lot of games, tours were quite difficult. Overtime, the test series came to the fore. Some historic moments include the 1971 win in New Zealand and the 1997 win in South Africa. The lion’s tour is recognised as one of the world’s top rugby things. The players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales team up to take on the game’s greatest teams.
The 2025 Tour
The upcoming 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour is scheduled to take place in Australia from 28 June to 2 August 2025. This tour marks the Lions’ return to Australia since their victorious series in 2013. Under the guidance of head coach Andy Farrell, the Lions aim to replicate their past success against the Wallabies.
Fixtures
The 2025 tour itinerary includes a total of ten matches: one pre-tour fixture, six non-test matches against Australian Super Rugby teams and an invitational side, and a three-match test series against the Australian national team. The detailed schedule is as follows.
- 20 June 2025: vs. Argentina – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- 28 June 2025: vs. Western Force – Optus Stadium, Perth
- 2 July 2025: vs. Queensland Reds – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- 5 July 2025: vs. NSW Waratahs – Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
- 9 July 2025: vs. ACT Brumbies – Canberra Stadium, Canberra
- 12 July 2025: vs. Invitational Australia & NZ XV – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
- 19 July 2025: 1st Test vs. Australia – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- 22 July 2025: vs. Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander Team – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
- 26 July 2025: 2nd Test vs. Australia – MCG, Melbourne
- 2 August 2025: 3rd Test vs. Australia – Stadium Australia, Sydney
This packed schedule gives the Lions plenty of time to find their rhythm before the all-important test series against the Wallabies. Starting off with a match against Argentina at Dublin will bring extra interest as those from the Northern Hemisphere get to see the squad before they board the plane for Down Under.
The British & Irish Lions last visited Australia in 2013 for a highly successful tour. The 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour looks poised to add to the rich history of this rugby rivalry.
