British & Irish Lions Unveil Bruising Tour Schedule

Dark/Light Mode (20/07/23)  The British & Irish Lions have published the nine-match schedule for the 2025 Tour to Australia that includes three Test matches against the Wallabies.

The eagerly awaited Test clashes will take place on 19 July, 26 July and 2 August 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.

The Lions will continue their preparation for the first Test by facing an invitational Australian and New Zealand team in a clash at the Adelaide Oval.

Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host the first Test on Saturday, 19 July. Following that, a midweek warm up fixture against Melbourne Rebels will take place at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday, 22 July.

The British & Irish Lions won their last tour in Australia in 2013. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

The second Test will be played on Saturday, 26 July at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which has a capacity of 100,000. A potential sell-out crowd at the renowned venue would be a record for a British & Irish Lions Test. This Test would also represent one of the highest attendances at a rugby match in history.

The final Test will be played in front of over 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, 2 August.

The Lions will have a two-week preparation period before the Tour commences, giving the players the best chance of regaining the Series on Australian soil, a country where they enjoyed their last tour win in 2013.

Ben Calveley, CEO of The British & Irish Lions, 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 United Rugby Championship, whose cooperation has resulted in the longest preparation period for a tour in recent history, which gives us the best possible chance of a Series victory. We look forward to continuing to work with our hosts and our partners to create one of the best tours ever."

The 2025 Tour to Australia promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated tours in history considering the absence of fans for the 2021 Tour of South Africa. Supporters who want to be part of the greatest experience in rugby can guarantee their place for ticket-inclusive travel packages to Australia with The British & Irish Lion’s own travel company, Lions Rugby Travel.

Ieuan Evans, Chairman of The British & Irish Lions, said, "British & Irish Lions Tours are unique in the world of sport, both in terms of the ultimate challenge they represent and the cultural impact they have. Lions tours to Australia have always been memorable occasions and the 2025 Tour promises to be no different. I know how special it is to pull on that famous red jersey in Australia, having toured there during the 1989 Tour. What I have learned from those special games is how important the fans are to roaring us on to victory so to be able to announce ticket package details is very exciting. Being a part of The British & Irish Lions means being able to unite and inspire through extraordinary rugby experiences, and working closely with our host partners in Rugby Australia, we believe that we can provide an epic tour that will be a global sporting event not to be missed."

2025 Lions Tour to Australia

• 28 June, Lions vs Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium) • 2 July, Lions vs Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) • 5 July, Lions vs NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium) • 9 July, Lions vs ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium) • 12 July, Lions vs Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) • 19 July, 1st Test, Lions vs Wallabies, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) • 22 July, Lions vs Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) • 26 July, 2nd Test, Lions vs Wallabies, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG) • 2 Aug, 3rd Test, Lions vs Wallabies, Sydney (Accor Stadium). Kick off times are yet to be confirmed.

"The British & 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," said Rugby Australia CEO, Phil Waugh. "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."

Rugby pictures: Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015, Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong Kong, Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015, Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013, Pictures of Chartis Cup 2012 and Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.

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