2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia

[Kiwiwomble]

The British & Irish Lions have today released the nine-match schedule for the 2025 Tour to Australia including three Test matches against the Wallabies.

https://www.lionsrugby.com/2023/07/19/british-irish-lions-announce-itinerary-for-2025-tour-of-australia

2025 Lions Tour to Australia (kick off times TBC)

• 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)

I havent seen any announcement of the combined NZ & Aus team before, Figured it would have been a big deal, already people suggesting it will only be overseas based NZ players so basically no current AB's

 

[Welsh Exile]

Is there really any need to do a aus/NZ combined team.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't hate the idea of the ANZAC XV game, it's better than the town/country/whatever it was last time around - however if they're forming a random side I'd have rather it been a Pacific Islands XV instead

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

How on earth are they going to promote this if there's no big shift in world rugby after the world cup?

"Can the combined strength of the 1st, 5th and 6th ranked teams in the world beat the 8th ranked team? We've even thrown in a token Welsh guy to carry tackle bags to help."

The Lions is really getting stupid now.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Don't hate the idea of the ANZAC XV game, it's better than the town/country/whatever it was last time around - however if they're forming a random side I'd have rather it been a Pacific Islands XV instead

I'd be ok with a festival type tournament to keep the Lions alive. Lions,
Rest of Europe XV
ANZAC XV
Pacific XV (Could combine this with ANZAC)
Africa XV
Asia XV
Americas XV

Get all the biggest stars of the game in one place and use it to grow the sport. Currently the Lions is self-serving BS with no purpose in the pro game other than nostalgia.

 

[Groundhog]

How can we even be sure Australia will exist in 2025? I have it on good authority (god visited me in my dreams last night) that it won't.


To be honest I don't hate it in theory, in practice it's just going to be a hodgepodge invitational team. I do echo the sentiment that lions really doesn't have the same oomph when most of the Lions nations are at least v competitive alone with the three tour countries, especially Oz

 

[die_mole]

I understand it wouldn't be feasible but maybe a two test series with the women's teams would be a good way to grow the game.

I'm assuming gatland will be named coach tomorrow.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

How can we even be sure Australia will exist in 2025? I have it on good authority (god visited me in my dreams last night) that it won't.


To be honest I don't hate it in theory, in practice it's just going to be a hodgepodge invitational team. I do echo the sentiment that lions really doesn't have the same oomph when most of the Lions nations are at least v competitive alone with the three tour countries, especially Oz

Yeah they should tour france instead.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

You'd have to think the lions players in their prime at the time will be gutted they drew the short straw with australia

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I understand it wouldn't be feasible but maybe a two test series with the women's teams would be a good way to grow the game.

I'm assuming gatland will be named coach tomorrow.

The Lions would destroy NZ's and Oz's women's teams.

 

[Groundhog]

I understand it wouldn't be feasible but maybe a two test series with the women's teams would be a good way to grow the game.

I'm assuming gatland will be named coach tomorrow.

Women's British and Irish Lions tour 'possible in future' following positive findings from study into the possibility of women's tour

A first British and Irish Lions women's tour is looking increasingly likely following 'positive initial findings' from a feasibility study into the possibility.

www.google.com

In the works by all accounts and I hope it pans out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't really see the point in the Women's Lions tbh, the only thing that's keeping the corpse of the Men's series puttering along is the history of it

 

[Groundhog]

Don't really see the point in the Women

Wow. Your true colors show....

 

[McTallshort]

I really fancy this. The invitation game is my 50th birthday so much merrymaking could be had. I have family and old squddie mates living in Aus. Might be the last chance to go on a Lion's tour. Going to start saving I think.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Don't hate the idea of the ANZAC XV game, it's better than the town/country/whatever it was last time around - however if they're forming a random side I'd have rather it been a Pacific Islands XV instead

that would be a good new tradition, when coming to NZ or Aus, to play a combined PI team

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I hope we do a jersey like this and not some fluro thing like the world XV had....would considering buying a modern version of this

 

[TobesHodges]

The Combined Aus/NZ team is a fun idea, what would be your current starting XV??

1. De Groot 2. Porecki 3. Lomax 4. Rettalick 5. Skelton 6. Frizell 7. Mcreight 8. Savea 9. Smith 10. Cooper (fun factor) 11. Talea/Clarke 12. Karevi 13. Ioane 14. Jordan/Fainga'anuku 15. Barrett

 

[AlRums]

Lions to play combined NZ-Australia XV on 2025 tour

The British and Irish Lions will play a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV as part of their nine-match tour down under in 2025.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[AlRums]

How on earth are they going to promote this if there's no big shift in world rugby after the world cup?

"Can the combined strength of the 1st, 5th and 6th ranked teams in the world beat the 8th ranked team? We've even thrown in a token Welsh guy to carry tackle bags to help."

The Lions is really getting stupid now.

Maybe a couple of English players might be good enough to play

 

[Kiwiwomble]

The Combined Aus/NZ team is a fun idea, what would be your current starting XV??

1. De Groot 2. Porecki 3. Lomax 4. Rettalick 5. Skelton 6. Frizell 7. Mcreight 8. Savea 9. Smith 10. Cooper (fun factor) 11. Talea/Clarke 12. Karevi 13. Ioane 14. Jordan/Fainga'anuku 15. Barrett

unfortunately it will have no first string players, aussies obviously keeping them for the tests and kiwis will be playing France

Also realised its in adelaide...which doesnt have a professional rugby team of its own...so baring the novelty factor of people...will take some work getting a big crowd