Clubs, Anzac XV to play Lions on Australian 2025 tour

Murray Wenzel |

A combined Australia-New Zealand team will play the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide in one of nine games on the 2025 tour of Australia. 

Fixtures for the hotly anticipated visit were confirmed in Brisbane on Wednesday, exactly two years before the Lions clash with the Wallabies at the nearby Suncorp Stadium.

The Lions will play three Tests – they will also face the Wallabies at the MCG and Sydney’s Accor Stadium – face all five Australian Super Rugby clubs and, for the first time since 1989, line up against an Anzac XV.

Combining the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the Lions tour either Australia, New Zealand or South Africa every four years.

They beat Australia 2-1 on their last visit to these shores in 2013, losing to the Brumbies en route. The Wallabies won the previous tour, 12 years earlier, 2-1.

Armed with a famously passionate travelling contingent, the Lions remain one of world rugby’s greatest drawcards.

The tour is hoped to supercharge the code’s coffers and generate interest ahead of Australia hosting the men’s World Cup in 2027, the women’s World Cup in 2029 and the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

“The British and Irish Lions tour is one of the great sporting festivals – it is a real landmark of Australian and world sport,” Rugby Australia boss and former Wallaby Phil Waugh said. 

“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.”

The British and Irish Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said he had the backing of the Premiership Rugby and United Rugby Championship clubs to ensure the Lions enjoyed a thorough preparation window.

“Which gives us the best possible chance of a series victory,” he said.

“Our ambition is to further build upon this position and make this upcoming tour the greatest Lions tour ever.”

BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS 2025 AUSTRALIAN FIXTURES

* June 28 v Western Force, Optus Stadium

* July 2 v Queensland Reds, Suncorp Stadium

* July 5 v NSW Waratahs, Allianz Stadium

* July 9 v ACT Brumbies, GIO Stadium

* July 12 v Invitational Aus-NZ XV, Adelaide Oval

* July 19 v Wallabies, Suncorp Stadium

* July 22 v Melbourne Rebels, Marvel Stadium

* July 26 v Wallabies, MCG

* August 2 v Wallabies, Accor Stadium

AAP