British & Irish Lions Tour Australia: Fixtures, head coach, historical past and extra

The Lions Tour Australia is the newest chapter in a narrative that stretches again to 1888. The British & Irish Lions are based mostly round probably the most romantic notions in rugby, the concept that gamers from England, Eire, Scotland and Wales can assemble each few years to tackle the perfect groups within the southern hemisphere.

In 2025 it’ll be Australia’s flip to listen to the Lions’ roar, and it’s set to be an intriguing tour. The Wallabies have been on the fallacious facet of two heavy Springbok defeats on this 12 months’s Rugby Championship however, after a disastrous Rugby World Cup final 12 months, they’re exhibiting indicators of restoration beneath new boss Joe Schmidt. They’ll even be determined for a robust exhibiting forward of a house World Cup in 2027.

In the meantime, Andy Farrell – the coach for the Lions’ Tour to Australia – may have only a few brief months to form gamers from 4 worldwide groups right into a facet able to beating Australia in their very own again yard. The Lions have solely received two take a look at sequence within the skilled period – their final victory got here in Australia in 2013 – however they’ll bear in mind that victorious groups are inclined to go down in historical past. Certainly, older followers nonetheless rave concerning the 1971 Lions who received in New Zealand.

There’s nonetheless loads of time for Farrell to choose his workforce, and for the remainder of us to have our opinions on the gamers who ought to be getting on that airplane. However within the meantime, right here’s every part it is advisable know concerning the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2025.

Lions Tour Australia: Overview

Lions Tour Australia: Fixtures

The British & Irish Lions will play 9 matches on their 2025 tour to Australia, together with three checks towards the Wallabies. Their itinerary comprises one further recreation in comparison with the eight they performed in South Africa in 2021, and one fewer than they performed in New Zealand in 2017.

Earlier than flying out to Australia, the Lions will play their first ever match in Eire. Argentina would be the opposition on the Aviva Stadium on Friday 20 June.

Friday 20 June

• British & Irish Lions v Argentina
  Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 28 June

• Western Pressure v British & Irish Lions
  Optus Stadium, Perth

Wednesday 2 July

• Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions
  Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Saturday 5 July

• NSW Waratahs v British & Irish Lions
  Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Wednesday 9 July

• ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions
  Gio Stadium, Canberra

Saturday 12 July

• Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV v British & Irish Lions
  Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Saturday 19 July

• FIRST TEST
  Australia v British & Irish Lions
  Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Tuesday 22 July

• TBC v British & Irish Lions
  Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Saturday 26 July

• SECOND TEST
  Australia v British & Irish Lions
  MCG, Melbourne

Saturday 2 August

• THIRD TEST
  Australia v British & Irish Lions
  Accor Stadium, Sydney

Lions Tour Australia: administration and squad

Andy Farrell will lead the Lions in Australia. (Photograph by David Rogers/Getty Photographs)

Andy Farrell has the honour of main the British & Irish Lions’ tour to Australia. The Eire boss was introduced because the workforce’s head coach in January 2024. He will probably be full-time with the Lions from December 2024 (after Eire’s autumn internationals towards New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia) till the take a look at sequence wraps up in August 2025. Farrell has earlier Lions expertise, having served as defence coach beneath Warren Gatland in 2013 and 2017.

With practically a 12 months to go earlier than the gamers take the sphere for the primary Lions Tour Australia take a look at in Brisbane, it’s somewhat early for information on the British & Irish Lions 2025 squad – in spite of everything, there’s nonetheless loads of time for type, health and the arrival of thrilling new gamers to form the considering of Farrell and his teaching workers. Nonetheless, that’s unlikely to cease rugby followers throughout the UK and Eire choosing their very own XVs over the approaching months – together with Rugby World’s Paul Williams, who’s picked his personal facet to face Australia in 2025.

Earlier British & Irish Lions excursions

Profitable a Lions sequence is at all times a tall order – because the vacationers present in South Africa in 2021. (Photograph by David Rogers/Getty Photographs)

The primary British & Irish Lions tour came about in 1888, when a bunch of former England cricketers led a celebration of twenty-two gamers on an epic 249-day tour of Australia and New Zealand. It was a superb concept that shortly caught on, as teams of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh gamers have often come collectively to tackle the southern hemisphere giants on their very own turf.

Right here’s an summary of previous British & Irish Lions excursions.

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