Why the Lions tour is rugby's greatest spectacle – and it's finally returning to Australia
Why should I care?
The Lions tour every four years, alternating between South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
The last time the Lions came down under was 12 years ago, when the Wallabies were defeated in a thrilling series by two games to one.
It is not uncommon for people in Britain and Ireland to save for years to have the opportunity of joining a Lions tour as a fan.
Demand has grown after the last Lions tour to South Africa in 2021 was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will be the first time fans will have followed the team in person since 2017 in New Zealand.
The Lions fanbase will spread across Australia, calling into Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne for each game of the tour.
English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish rugby supporters never support one team together, apart from every four years when the Lions tour, when long-held sporting grudges are temporarily quashed. English fans sing the Fields of Athenry and Irish fans will belt out Flower of Scotland in pubs across Australia.
How are Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England represented?
The Lions' red shirt represents Wales, the white shorts represent England, the blue socks with a green top represent Scotland and Ireland.
A sea of red jerseys has become an iconic part of the imagery of the Lions abroad, with thousands of supporters filling the host city's streets and stadiums in the colour.
Until the 1950 tour to Australia and New Zealand, the Lions wore dark blue jerseys, before changing to red.
The Lions tours are not only made up of players from each of the four countries, but also the coaching and backroom staff. The Lions will be led by Ireland coach and former Great Britain rugby league star Andy Farrell.
Four countries against one – it's hardly fair?
Four countries against one does sound unfair, especially against a Wallabies team that missed the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals, but history tells a different story.
Since their first tour in 1888, the Lions boast a winning record of 42 per cent against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa collectively.
A series win is cherished principally because it is so hard to do. Regardless of the stars available to the Lions, most have never played rugby together and have to retrain their bodies and minds to play completely differently from what they are used to doing with their own countries.
The squad need to move beyond hard and fast national cliques swiftly, learn to trust teammates who were recently sworn enemies and adapt to a game plan that is being generated on the run.
England's Lawrence Dallaglio famously said that he held his Lions series win in 1997 higher than his 2003 World Cup winner's medal. Series wins are rare and the 2025 tour to Australia represents a golden opportunity for the Lions.
Do the Wallabies have any chance?
Absolutely. Since his appointment last March, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has built a strong squad that is finally working under a cohesive game plan.
In November, the Wallabies defeated England and Wales and lost by just three points to Ireland in Dublin. Granted, they also lost to Scotland by 14 points in Edinburgh.
Schmidt is a former Ireland coach who knows the Lions squad implicitly. He is the master at studying game plans and manipulating them to give his side the best chance of upsetting the odds.
The Wallabies are heavy underdogs, but they will make life difficult for the Lions.
Where are the Lions playing?
The Lions tours are a combination of games against Australian Super Rugby teams played across the country, as well as two invitational teams: the Australia and New Zealand invitational side and the First Nations and Pasifika XV.
The Lions will use the majority of these games to test their squad and build their best possible team that will face the Wallabies in the three-game Test series.
Who are the stars of the Lions team?
The Lions captain and second-rower Maro Itoje is only the second Englishman to captain the Lions in the professional era, following England World Cup winning skipper Martin Johnson who led the side in 1997 and 2001.
Off the field, he holds a political science degree, an MBA and runs an art gallery — all while being one of the world's best players.
Melbourne-raised Sione Tuipulotu now plays for Scotland, is an exceptional centre and will provide a brilliant clash against Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. He will be back on familiar turf with fellow Aussies, Ireland prop Finlay Bealham and winger Mack Hansen who were both raised in Canberra.
England winger Tommy Freeman is the tourists' danger man, scoring a try in all of his five starts in the Six Nations.
Can I still get tickets?
At the time of publication, there are still some tickets available for every game on the tour in Australia.
Tickets for the Western Force game in Perth and First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne are available on Ticketmaster.
Every other game, including the three Tests are available on Ticketek.
I don't want to brave the cold, what pubs are showing the games in Sydney?
When the tour starts, it will be a challenge not to find a pub that is showing the games in the harbour city, but for starters the Marlborough Hotel in Newtown, the Woollahra Hotel and the Sporting Globe on King Street Wharf are showing every game of the tour live.
On Wednesday 30 July Cheers Bar on George Street is hosting a Q and A with former Lions and Wales five-eighth Dan Biggar, who toured Australia in 2013.
On Thursday 31 July, Establishment Bar on George Street is hosting 'the Good, the Bad and the Rugby' podcast live with former England World Cup winner and member of the royal family Mike Tindall.
How will this tour impact Australia economically?
The tour is expected to pour $200 million into the Australia economy during the tour, with fans packing out pubs, hotels and restaurants.
Cash-strapped Rugby Australia took out an $80 million loan two years ago and the $100 million the organisation are expected to pocket is crucial to rugby's financial future in Australia.
As part of a new joint-venture organisational structure the Lions and Australia will share all commercial and government revenue, ticket revenue and broadcast revenue – helping to lift RA's windfall from about $40 million on the 2013 tour.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Hungrier than us': Aussie-bound Lions mauled by Pumas
The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids. The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids. The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser. The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit. It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act. He didn't hold back about his side's lack of intensity as he declared: "They were hungrier than us - and that's just not acceptable." There were moments, as the Lions scored three tries through centre Bundee Aki, a penalty try and lock Tadhg Beirne, when they showed what captain Maro Itoje called "glimmers of what we can do", the sort of cohesive attacking and forward domination they'll need in their nine Australian matches including three Tests. But their error count was horrendous, allowing the slick visitors, who Beirne had reckoned would be treating the match as their "World Cup final", to lead 21-10 at halftime and then hold out courageously after repelling the Lions' second-half comeback. The excellent counter-attacking Pumas also crossed the whitewash three times through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero in a deflating evening for the Lions before they fly out to Perth for their first match against Western Force next Saturday. "It's disappointing. We've got to take the learnings from this," said Farrell, back at the Aviva Stadium where he's led Ireland to so much success. Not for the first time, the Pumas, who crushed the Wallabies by 40 points the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship, delighted in spoiling the send-off, the world's No.5-ranked side now adding the Lions to their victims for the first time after beating all three Rugby Championship rivals last season. The Pumas took the upper hand early when, after Mendy's try had been answered by Aki's score, Albornoz struck from a Puma's counter from their own 22 on the stroke of halftime. The Lions, deprived of almost half their squad because of recent club commitments and injuries, had a couple of scores ruled out in the first half - including one from Sione Tuipulotu - because of knock-ons. But Farrell was briefly enthused at the start of the second half when their robust response led to the penalty try and home favourite Beirne powering over. But Cordero then put the also under-strength Pumas back in front with a superb team score and they held on grimly under pressure near their own line only for the Lions to spurn their last chance when a penalty in front of the Argentina posts was reversed over a Beirne neck roll. "Argentina deserved the win and capitalised on all the errors we made," said Farrell. "There is a lot to do. You can't win a Test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. "There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off - and I take responsibility for that." There was at least some good news for the Lions in the performances of their three Australian-born players - Scotland's Tuipulotu plus the Irish pair of prop Finlay Bealham and replacement wing Mack Hansen, who all made excellent debuts in the scarlet. Melburnian Tuipulotu looked the Lions' most incisive attacker even if his handling may have been just a tiny bit off while Canberra's Bealham was instrumental in the Lions' scrum domination. The ebullient Hansen, another Canberra native much loved by the Dublin faithful, got one of the biggest cheers of the night when he came on for the last 20 minutes, and repaid the ovation with a couple of fine raids.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Force need to set Lions tour tone by showing some mongrel
Now we have a Lions tour on our hands. That development has not come in the wake of the Wallabies' squad announcement on Thursday, nor the naming of the Lions' team to face Argentina this weekend, but the excellent niggle between Joe Schmidt and his friends in the north. Within hours of Schmidt making reference to the Lions' 'southern hemisphere' midfield partnership of Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu for the Argentina game in Dublin, Lions management were asked about the apparent dig, which followed the labelling of Finlay Bealham as 'another Aussie'. Umbrage was apparently taken, but the Lions cannot seriously expect their Seven-Nation Army, with eight Australians, Kiwis and South Africans joining a squad operating under British and Irish Lions branding, to pass without comment. It is not known if Schmidt's alleged dig was intentional, or even wise, but it has given the tour a focal point and some much-needed edge. The Lions will also have to work on their response, because simply pointing out that their imports have shown commitment to their adopted nations really says nothing at all - presumably players such as the Scot Darcy Graham, who was overlooked in favour of an Australian, New Zealander and South African, feels like he too is committed. The edge is needed because there is a great fear hanging over this tour that has not been broached because it would be so woeful for the hosts. With the NRL ascendant - journalists travelling from the north who last visited in 2013 will barely recognise the changed sporting landscape - Australian rugby really can't afford for the Lions to romp through the tour games registering big scores before beating the Wallabies 3-0.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Force need to set Lions tour tone by showing some mongrel
Now we have a Lions tour on our hands. That development has not come in the wake of the Wallabies' squad announcement on Thursday, nor the naming of the Lions' team to face Argentina this weekend, but the excellent niggle between Joe Schmidt and his friends in the north. Within hours of Schmidt making reference to the Lions' 'southern hemisphere' midfield partnership of Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu for the Argentina game in Dublin, Lions management were asked about the apparent dig, which followed the labelling of Finlay Bealham as 'another Aussie'. Umbrage was apparently taken, but the Lions cannot seriously expect their Seven-Nation Army, with eight Australians, Kiwis and South Africans joining a squad operating under British and Irish Lions branding, to pass without comment. It is not known if Schmidt's alleged dig was intentional, or even wise, but it has given the tour a focal point and some much-needed edge. The Lions will also have to work on their response, because simply pointing out that their imports have shown commitment to their adopted nations really says nothing at all - presumably players such as the Scot Darcy Graham, who was overlooked in favour of an Australian, New Zealander and South African, feels like he too is committed. The edge is needed because there is a great fear hanging over this tour that has not been broached because it would be so woeful for the hosts. With the NRL ascendant - journalists travelling from the north who last visited in 2013 will barely recognise the changed sporting landscape - Australian rugby really can't afford for the Lions to romp through the tour games registering big scores before beating the Wallabies 3-0.
