2025 Lions Tour to Australia in June/July/August
- Updated: 26/05/2025
By Frank Quinn, Irish Rugby Review
THE Circus gets underway on the Friday, 20th June following the completion of the European Cup competitions (England and France Winners) and the completion of all the local competitions in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
It starts with a game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium at 8 pm. Presume it is a warm-up game “getting to know you style “and it should draw a crowd, and be entertaining. Argentina are usually worth it with their brand of commitment, and of course, Felipe Contepomi is their head coach. It has an 8 pm start which is late for travelling. Sky have the TV rights so it’s their call. With 15 Irish players in the expanded group of about 40 players and the Irish coaches in charge.
I expect to see a healthy number of Irish players in the match squad for the local audience to view before they departure.
There will 38/40 players on Tour including a couple of call ups for injuries. In addition we can allow for a minimum of 20 more staff, coaches – medical , nutritionists, PR, baggage handlers tour operators. Its a big expedition to the Southern Hemisphere. It was launched with a fanfare at the O2 auditorium in London with an audience of over 2,000. Never mind a football match, it was spectacular optics at enormous expense..
Move forward to 28th June and they have landed in Perth in Western Australia, acclimatising beside the Indian Ocean, and they are ready for the first tour game with Western Force, one of the Australian Franchise teams. This is on Irish TV at 10.45 am.
The Tour side is scheduled to play all the Australian franchises to spread the rugby gospel.
Next up its another Franchise squad on 2nd July against Queensland Reds at the Suncorp Stadium Brisbane. On the 5th of July its the NSW Waratahs turn at the Alliance Stadium to include them in the schedule and another Franchise.
The 9th July is the next Franchise into the act, against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra followed by an Invitation event on 12th July and First Test 19th July.
There is a new departure in the script for the next game – which is an invitational game – An Australian / New Zealand combination at the Adelaide oval, the Arch rivals get together to take on the Lions on the 12th July.
This is one week before the first test in Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. on the 19th July. Traditionally this is the first big divisional split where the Test team squad are named and the travellers know the score on the selection for the three test games, as they sit it out.
Tradition also has it that only 16/17 players start the 3 test matches. There may be some adjustments in the replacements due to injuries or selection changes. It is way too early to speculate on the on the test game squad.
22nd July – First Nations and Pasifika Origen against the Lions, (another departure from the past itinary) at the Marvel Stadium Melbourne at 1045 am.
2nd Test 26th July
The second test is scheduled for 26th July at the MCG Stadium and TV is down for 10.45 AM.
The third and final test is on target for 2nd August for the Sydney Accor Stadium, also with a TV start of 10.45 AM. Then it’s Holiday Time for all.
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