In 2025, the British and Irish Lions will embark on a nine-match tour, which includes a match against a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV.
The tour will kick off with a historic fixture in Adelaide before the Test matches with the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.If the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground sells out, it will break records for a Lions Test match.
The tour’s grand finale will take place in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
“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,” said Lions chief executive Ben Calveley.
The 2025 Lions tour fixtures in full
- Saturday 28 June: v Western Force, Optus Stadium, Perth
- Wednesday 2 July: v Queensland Reds, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- Saturday 5 July: v New South Wales Waratahs, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Wednesday 9 July: v ACT Brumbies, GIO Stadium, Canberra
- Saturday 12 July: v Invitational Australia & NZ XV, Adelaide Oval
- Saturday 19 July: First Test, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- Tuesday 22 July: v Melbourne Rebels, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
- Saturday 26 July: Second Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Saturday 2 August: Third Test, Accor Stadium, Sydney
In a groundbreaking move, the Lions, Premiership Rugby, and the United Rugby Championship have reached an agreement to provide an unprecedented two-week preparation period before the tour’s opening match in Perth against Western Force on 28 June.
This agreement addresses a previous issue where the Premiership final coincided only a week before the Lions’ opening fixture, which affected the team’s preparation negatively on past tours. With this new arrangement, the Lions will have ample time to prepare effectively for their tour opener, ensuring a more competitive and well-prepared squad.
“I would also like to thank Premiership Rugby and the United Rugby Championship, whose co-operation has resulted in the longest preparation period for a tour in recent history, which gives us the best possible chance of a series victory,” added Calveley.
flanker Phil Waugh, has called a Lions tour “one of the great sporting festivals”.
“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,” Waugh said.
“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.”