The British & Irish Lions head Down Underneath this summer season earlier than taking over the Wallabies in a three-Check collection. It guarantees to be a captivating tour, with head coach Andy Farrell seeking to ship solely their second collection victory this century.
Here is all the pieces it’s good 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 Drive
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
Tips on how to 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 Checks may even be obtainable on Channel 9 Down Underneath.
You can too comply with all of the motion with ESPN’s dwell blogs of every recreation, in addition to in depth information and have protection.
Click on right here to see ESPN house 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 towards 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 recreation in Sydney. Nevertheless, the 2 succeeding Lions sides have struggled to achieve the identical heights.
The 2017 tour of New Zealand led to a tie, with the All Blacks and Lions successful a Check every earlier than taking part in out to a 16-16 draw within the remaining recreation in Auckland.
The 2021 tour of South Africa, which was performed below the shadow of Covid, bought off to a vivid begin, with the Lions having fun with a 22-17 victory, just for the Springboks to take the following two Checks 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 crew 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 greatest for final, the Lions utterly dominating the Wallabies 41-16 in Sydney, a outcome that introduced an finish to Robbie Deans’ six-year tenure as Australia coach.
The Lions in any other case gained all however one in all their tour video games, their different defeat coming towards the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
What’s the Wallabies’ type heading into the collection?
The state of affairs could not have been a lot worse for Australia after their Rugby World Cup 2023 flop, with the crew parting methods with coach Eddie Jones by mutual resolution quickly after. Nevertheless, the Wallabies have been then in a position to climb up from worldwide abyss below Kiwi Joe Schmidt, who led them to a 6-7 report in 2024.
Schmidt forged a large internet firstly of the season, earlier than closing the 12 months having blooded no fewer than 19 Check debutants. Whereas their remaining outing of 2024 was a loss to Eire in Dublin, the Wallabies had proven greater than sufficient to counsel that the three-Check 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 recreation, towards Fiji in Newcastle on July. 6, earlier than the primary Check with the Lions.
Who’s within the Lions squad?
Head coach Andy Farrell named his 38-player squad on the O2 Enviornment 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 a couple of harm absences to notice: Caelan Doris was not chosen on account of a severe shoulder difficulty, whereas Zander Fagerson needed to drop out as he is not going to get better in time from a calf difficulty.
Who’s within the Wallabies squad?
Schmidt will affirm his Wallabies squad to face the Lions after Australia face Fiji on July. 6. There’s, 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 complete squad that may put together to face Fiji right here.
– Sam Bruce: In Aussie view, no Owen Farrell means no concern issue
– WATCH: The second Maro Itoje was named Lions captain
