Two years from the deadline, the British and Irish Lions confirmed this Wednesday the program of the tour scheduled for Australia in the summer of 2025. In addition to the three test matches against the Wallabies, there will be a meeting against a selection mixing Australians and New Zealanders.
The appointment is given. Beyond the World Cup, the British and Irish Lions tour is the most anticipated event. After going to South Africa in 2021, the selection of the best players from the British Isles must go to Australia in the summer of 2025. Two years before the event, the program of matches which will be played from June 28 to August 2, 2025 by the players selected by Warren Gatland was formalized on Wednesday.
While a preparatory meeting should take place in Europe before joining the Southern Hemisphere, the British and Irish Lions will start this tour with four games against teams playing in the Super Rugby Pacific. Western Force will open the ball at Optus Stadium in Perth on June 28. The Queensland Reds will follow on July 2 in Brisbane and then the Waratahs will face the Lions on July 5 in Sydney. Finally, it is the Brumbies who will host the British and Irish players in Canberra on July 9.
In case you missed it! We have announced our fixtures for the 2025 Tour of Australia 🙌
For more information on the full schedule visit our website ⤵️
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 19, 2023
The “ANZAC” selection relaunched
However, the first event of this tour is already scheduled for July 12 at the Adelaide Oval. For the first time since the 1989 tour, already in Australia, the British and Irish Lions will have to do battle with a selection mixing Australian and New Zealand internationals, confirming the rumors that appeared a few months ago. Then baptized ANZAC in memory of the troops of the two countries who fought in Europe during the First World War, this selection will be soberly called “Invitational AU & NZ” for this tour.
An expected meeting which will be the last dress rehearsal before the first test match against the Wallabies, scheduled for July 19 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. While the second meeting will take place on July 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a duel against the Melbourne Rebels will take place on July 22 at Marvel Stadium. The tour will end on August 2 at the Accor Stadium in Sydney with the third and final test match between the Lions and the host nation. Wallabies who will want to forget the memory of 2013 and the series lost against the selection which was already trained by Warren Gatland.
