The British & Irish Lions head Down Beneath this summer season earlier than taking over the Wallabies in a three-Take a look at collection. It guarantees to be an interesting tour, with head coach Andy Farrell seeking to ship solely their second collection victory this century.
This is every thing it is advisable to know.
When are the video games?
All Lions video games in Australia will happen at 7.45 p.m. AEST (10.45 a.m. BST), with video games happening on both a Saturday or Wednesday.
June 20 — vs. Argentina (in Dublin, Eire)
June 28 — vs. Western Pressure
July 2 — vs. Queensland Reds
July 5 — vs. NSW Waratahs
July 9 — vs. ACT Brumbies
July 12 — vs. Australia & New Zealand Invitational XV
July 19 — vs. Australia
July 22 — vs. First Nations & Pasifika XV
July 26 — vs. Australia
Aug. 2 — vs. Australia
How one can watch the Lions tour on TV
The tour will likely be proven dwell on Sky Sports activities within the UK and on Stan Sport in Australia; the three Exams may even be accessible on Channel 9 Down Beneath.
You may as well comply with all of the motion with ESPN’s dwell blogs of every sport, in addition to intensive information and have protection.
Click on right here to see ESPN residence of British and Irish Lions content material.
How have the Lions fared in earlier Excursions?
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When the British and Irish Lions beat World Champion South Africa
Relive the well-known 1997 British and Irish Lions tour in opposition to Rugby World Cup champion, South Africa.
The duty going through Andy Farrell is to information the Lions to solely their second tour victory in virtually 30 years, their solely success coming in a 2013 journey to Australia.
That summer season, Warren Gatland’s facet earned a 2-1 collection victory — together with an emphatic 41-16 win within the deciding sport in Sydney. Nonetheless, the 2 succeeding Lions sides have struggled to succeed in the identical heights.
The 2017 tour of New Zealand resulted in a tie, with the All Blacks and Lions successful a Take a look at every earlier than taking part in out to a 16-16 draw within the remaining sport in Auckland.
The 2021 tour of South Africa, which was performed beneath the shadow of Covid, received off to a shiny begin, with the Lions having fun with a 22-17 victory, just for the Springboks to take the subsequent two Exams and the seires.
Latest excursions:
2021 — vs. South Africa (2-1 defeat)
2017 — vs. New Zealand (1-1-1 draw)
2013 — vs. Australia (2-1 win)
2009 — vs. South Africa (2-1 defeat)
2005 — vs. New Zealand (3-0 defeat)
2001 — vs. Australia (2-1 defeat)
What occurred the final time the Lions toured Australia?
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When the Lions ended their 16-year shedding streak vs. Australia
Relive the British and Irish Lions 2013 successful tour of Australia, the place the group clinched their first collection victory since 1997.
The Lions triumphed 2-1 in 2013, giving Warren Gatland a collection win within the first of his three excursions as coach. The Lions defeated the Wallabies in Brisbane, just for Australia to sq. the collection in Melbourne every week later.
However the vacationers saved their finest for final, the Lions fully dominating the Wallabies 41-16 in Sydney, a consequence that introduced an finish to Robbie Deans’ six-year tenure as Australia coach.
The Lions in any other case gained all however considered one of their tour video games, their different defeat coming in opposition to the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
What’s the Wallabies’ kind heading into the collection?
The scenario could not have been a lot worse for Australia after their Rugby World Cup 2023 flop, with the group parting methods with coach Eddie Jones by mutual determination quickly after. Nonetheless, the Wallabies have been then capable of climb up from worldwide abyss beneath Kiwi Joe Schmidt, who led them to a 6-7 report in 2024.
Schmidt forged a large web at first of the season, earlier than closing the 12 months having blooded no fewer than 19 Take a look at debutants. Whereas their remaining outing of 2024 was a loss to Eire in Dublin, the Wallabies had proven greater than sufficient to recommend that the three-Take a look at collection with Lions was something however a foregone conclusion. Australia’s last-gasp win over England at Twickenham put the idea again into Australian rugby.
Australia have one warm-up sport, in opposition to Fiji in Newcastle on July. 6, earlier than the primary Take a look at with the Lions.
Who’s within the Lions squad?
Head coach Andy Farrell named his 38-player squad on the O2 Area in London, with Maro Itoje topped captain of the 2025 Lions. There have been attention-grabbing calls: Henry Pollock included, whereas there was no place for Owen Farrell, Sam Prendergast, Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan, Jamie George or George Ford.
There have additionally been just a few damage absences to notice: Caelan Doris was not chosen as a result of a critical shoulder subject, whereas Zander Fagerson needed to drop out as he won’t get better in time from a calf subject.
Who’s within the Wallabies squad?
Schmidt will verify his Wallabies squad to face the Lions after Australia face Fiji on July. 6. There may be, nevertheless, unlikely to be an excessive amount of change, save for some accidents, from the 36-man group he has introduced collectively to face the Pacific islanders.
The Kiwi backed his younger playmaking trio, rejecting requires a recall for James O’Connor and Bernard Foley within the course of, and included simply two uncapped gamers in winger Corey Toole and back-rower Nick Champion De Crespigny.
You’ll be able to see the total squad that may put together to face Fiji right here.
– Sam Bruce: In Aussie view, no Owen Farrell means no worry issue
– WATCH: The second Maro Itoje was named Lions captain
