'Incredible atmosphere': Australia gears up for 'historic, brutal and thrilling' rugby union showdown as British and Irish Lions face off Wallabies, other teams in six-week tour

Sky News AU

2 days ago

The British and Irish Lions will roar into Australia next month to bring drama and excitement for rugby fans while delivering a tourism windfall in excess of $150 million.
Thousands of Australians have already bought tickets to cheer the Wallabies in what is a historic, brutal and thrilling football series.
The Lions tour Australia every 12 years. Their first tour Down Under was in 1888 - before Australia was officially a nation.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said this year the visitors will be heading here with a cheer squad of 40,000 fans from the UK.
Phillipa Harrison, the managing director of Tourism Australia said the tourism benefits of the six-week tour should not be underestimated.
She said the 2013 tour by the British and Irish Lions supporters pumped $150 million to the Australian economy.
'The upcoming tour offers significant opportunities for Australian tourism with the nine-game tour being played across six cities, delivering significant economic impacts to both the host destinations and Australia more broadly,' Ms Harrison said.
'While British and Irish rugby fans will be focused on what's happening on the rugby pitch, we also want to remind them of what Australia has to offer as a world-class holiday destination.'
The Lions are bringing a squad of 38 players skippered by Maro Itoje, a rugby superstar who will be a major drawcard.
The elusive lock was born Oghenemaro Miles Itoje in London to Nigerian parents and grew up playing many sports.
He was an under 17 England shot-put champion.
The Lions will play a warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 before they fly to Australia.
Tim Mander, the Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing and the Olympics said the first test against the Wallabies starts at Lang Park in Brisbane on July 19.
He added the Qatar Airways British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia is expected to inject around $55.5 million into the Queensland economy alone.
Mr Mander, a former rugby league referee who controlled 12 test matches, expects the series will attract 38,000 visitors to Queensland from interstate and overseas.
He said the Queensland Reds will play the tourists in a warm-up game at Suncorp Stadium on July 2.
'We can't wait for the incredible atmosphere that the British and Irish Lions fans guarantee: the chants, comradery and fanfare make for an unforgettable night,' Mr Mander said.
'And where better than the world's best football stadium?
'This is the beginning of our golden runway of rugby for Queensland, as we get ready to host the Men's World Cup in 2027 and the Women's World Cup in 2029.'
Victoria's Minister for Sport Steve Dimopoulos believes a crowd in excess of 100,000 may turn out to the MCG.
'Melbourne is Australia's sporting capital, and we can't wait to see the MCG packed to the rafters with what could be a record-breaking crowd,' he said.
Steve Kamper, the NSW Minister for Sport, was also claiming bragging rights.
'Sydney is the heartland of rugby in Australia, boasting the nation's strongest fan base,' he said.
'Accor Stadium is one of the finest rugby venues in the country and is a fitting stage for what promises to be the most crucial match of the series against the old foe.'
It will also be a packed house in Perth when 61,000 fans turn out to see the Lions go into battle with the Western Force at the Optus Stadium on Saturday June 28.
The Lions will also play the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies.
Tourism Australia said there will be another rugby invasion in 2027 when Australia hosts the Rugby World Cup.
Matches will be played in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, and Townsville between October 1 and November 13.
Where to see the British and Irish Lions:
Saturday June 28 - Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium)
Wednesday July 2 - Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)
Saturday July 5 - Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium)
Wednesday July 9 - Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium)
Saturday July 12 - Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Saturday July 19 - Lions v Australia, first Test, Brisbane (Lang Park's Suncorp Stadium)
Tuesday July 22 - Lions v First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)
Saturday July 26 - Lions v Australia, second Test, Melbourne (MCG)
Saturday August 2 - Lions v Australia, third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium)