British & Irish Lions Tour Australia 2025: Squad, fixtures, coaching team, history and results

The British & Irish Lions head to Adelaide to face an Australia/New Zealand invitational XV as the 2025 tour down under continues

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The British & Irish Lions’ Australia tour continues against an Australia/New Zealand invitational XV on Saturday 12 July. So far they’ve beaten Western Force 54-7, Queensland Reds 52-12, NSW Waratahs 21-10 and ACT Brumbies 36-24 in their first four matches down under.

After scoring 50-plus points against both the Force and the Reds, the Lions laboured in victory against the Waratahs, and conceded four tries to the Brumbies. Andy Farrell’s Test team appears to be taking shape, but there’s still plenty for the rest of the Lions squad to play for in Melbourne against the combined Australia/New Zealand side. There’s also an intriguing subplot about the late arrival of the experienced Owen Farrell, who’ll be on the bench on Saturday, ready to take the field on his fourth Lions tour.

The Lions are looking for their first tour victory since Warren Gatland led the victorious 2013 trip to Australia – one of the touring side’s only two Test series wins in the professional era. The question is, do the Wallabies have enough to beat them?

After a dismal Rugby World Cup in 2023 and a fourth-place finish in last year’s Rugby Championship, Joe Schmidt’s Australia side showed signs of recovery in November’s Autumn Nations Series. They’ll feel they have something to prove against the Lions and will be desperate to pull of a shock, especially as they prepare for a home World Cup in 2027.

With the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia now well underway, here’s everything you need to know about one of the biggest sporting events of the year, including the players and coaching staff trying to write their names in rugby’s history books.

Read more: How to watch the British & Irish Lions in 2025

Lions Tour Australia: Overview

Dates 20 June – 2 August 2025
Destination Australia
Number of matches  10 (including one match in Dublin)
Head coach Andy Farrell
TV coverage  Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland;
Nine and Stan Sport in Australia;
CBS and Paramount+ in the US

Lions Tour Australia: Squad

Farrell’s initial selection comprised 13 players from England, 15 from Ireland, 8 from Scotland and 2 from Wales. Following Finlay Bealham, Ben White and Owen Farrell’s arrival to replace injured prop Zander Fagerson, scrum-half Tomos Williams and utility back Elliot Daly, respectively, the breakdown is now 13 from England, 16 from Ireland, 8 from Scotland and 1 from Wales.

But, as our article on late British & Irish Lions call-ups explains, these changes to the squad are unlikely to be the last.

England’s Maro Itoje has been appointed to lead the team, joining an illustrious list of British & Irish Lions captains.

FORWARDS (21)

BACKS (17)

Withdrawals:

Read more: Are the two Wales players selected for the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad the fewest ever from a single nation?

Lions Tour Australia: Line-ups

British & Irish Lions team v Argentina (20 June)

In a side dominated by England players, Farrell found room for both Smiths (Marcus and Fin), and the prolific Tommy Freeman on the wing. The squad’s entire Welsh contingent, Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams (recently crowned Premiership player of the year), made the 23, while Henry Pollock (the youngest player in the squad) made his Lions debut from the bench.

The matchday 23:

Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (captain), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl

Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen

British & Irish Lions team v Western Force (28 June)

Farrell selected nine Leinster players in his matchday 23, including Dan Sheehan as captain. Henry Pollock started at eight while Tadhg Beirne switched to six having played in the second row against Argentina. Elliot Daly got the nod at full back with James Lowe and Mack Hansen on the wings. Finn Russell was handed the number 10 jersey after helping Bath to Premiership glory.

The matchday 23:

Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, Jame Lowe, Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan (captain), Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock

Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones, Marcus Smith

British & Irish Lions team v Queensland Reds (2 July)

Farrell took the opportunity to try out what, most assume, will be his first choice half-back partnership in the Test series: Jamison Gibson-Park (making his first appearance of the tour) and Finn Russell (the only Saturday starter to back up against the Reds). The biggest news, however, was arguably the late withdrawal of full-back Hugo Keenan (due to illness).

The matchday 23:

Elliot Daly, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje (captain), Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan

Replacements:
Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose

British & Irish Lions team v NSW Waratahs (5 July)

As expected, head coach Andy Farrell made plenty of changes to the side that comfortably beat the Reds, with centre Huw Jones the only player to retain his place in the starting XV. There were also first starts for Hugo Keenan (who missed the Reds game with illness) and Blair Kinghorn (a late arrival after winning the Top 14 with Toulouse), while Ben White (who came into the squad for the injured Tomos Williams) was a substitute. Henry Pollock dropped out of the 23 at the last minute, replaced by Scott Cummings with Duhan van der Merwe coming onto the bench.

The matchday 23:

Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Blair Kinghorn, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (captain), Josh van der Flier, Ben Earl

Replacements:
Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Duhan van der Merwe, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith

British & Irish Lions team v ACT Brumbies (9 July)

It’s widely predicted that the team Farrell selected to face the Brumbies (the strongest of the Australian Super Rugby franchises) will be, more or less, the one he selects for the first Wallabies Test. Kinghorn made his first test at full-back (though limped off in the first half), alongside wings Tommy Freeman and James Lowe. Farrell opted for an all-Ireland pairing of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose in the centres, and a half-back partnership of Garry Ringrose and Finn Russell. Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong made up the front row, ahead of locks Joe McCarthy and captain Maro Itoje. Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry and Jack Conan were the back row.

The matchday 23:

Blair Kinghorn, Tommy Freeman, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje (captain), Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jack Conan

Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen

British & Irish Lions team v Australia/New Zealand invitational XV (12 July)

The big headline ahead of Saturday’s game is Owen Farrell coming onto the bench, in line to start a game on his fourth Lions tour. But everyone in the side will be looking to make the most of this final audition for a place in the Test side, with wing Mack Hansen, centres Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, lock Tadhg Beirne (who also captains) and openside flanker Jac Morgan arguably the most likely starters to push for a place in the XV that takes on the Wallabies.

The matchday 23:

Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Fin Smith, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (captain), Henry Pollock, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl

Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell

Lions Tour Australia: Fixtures

The British & Irish Lions fixture list comprises 10 matches in 2025, including three tests against the Wallabies. Their itinerary contains one extra game compared to the nine they played in 2021, and the same number they played in 2017.

Before flying out to Australia, the Lions played their first ever match in Ireland against Argentina, a disappointing 24-28 loss. The Lions have since beaten four Super Rugby franchises, Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies.

Next up, incoming Australia head coach Les Kiss and former All Blacks boss Ian Foster are teaming up to coach an invitational Australia and New Zealand XV against the Lions in Adelaide on Saturday 12 July. The Lions will also play their first ever game against a First Nations & Pasifika XV at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in between the first two Tests.

Friday 20 June

  • RESULT – British & Irish Lions 24 – 28 Argentina
    Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday 28 June

  • RESULT – Western Force 7 – 54 British & Irish Lions
    Optus Stadium, Perth

Wednesday 2 July

  • RESULT Queensland Reds 12 v 52 British & Irish Lions
    Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Saturday 5 July

  • RESULT NSW Waratahs 10 v 21 British & Irish Lions
    Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Wednesday 9 July

  • RESULT ACT Brumbies 24 v 36 British & Irish Lions
    Gio Stadium, Canberra

Saturday 12 July

  • Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV v British & Irish Lions
    Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
    Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 7.30pm ACST

Saturday 19 July

  • FIRST TEST
    Australia v British & Irish Lions
    Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
    Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 8.00pm AEST

Tuesday 22 July

  • First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions
    Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
    Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 8.00pm AEST

Saturday 26 July

  • SECOND TEST
    Australia v British & Irish Lions
    MCG, Melbourne
    Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 8.00pm AEST

Saturday 2 August

  • THIRD TEST
    Australia v British & Irish Lions
    Accor Stadium, Sydney
    Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 8.00pm AEST

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Lions Tour Australia: Management

Lions coaches at the Lions squad announcement

Andy Farrell flanked by his Lions Tour Australia coaching staff: Richard Wigglesworth (England), Simon Easterby (Ireland), John Dalziel (Scotland), Andrew Goodman (Ireland) and John Fogarty (Ireland) (Getty Images)

Ireland boss Andy Farrell has the honour of leading the British & Irish Lions’ tour to Australia, having been unveiled as head coach in January 2024. He’s currently on a sabbatical from Ireland – Simon Easterby served as interim head coach during the Six Nations 2025 – and will return to the day job when the Lions Test series wraps up in August.

Farrell has previous Lions experience, having toured as defence coach under Warren Gatland in Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017.

Unsurprisingly, the British & Irish Lions coaching team features many familiar faces from Farrell’s Ireland staff. His defence coach Easterby (who toured as a player in 2005), scrum coach John Fogarty, backs coach Andrew Goodman, head of analysis Vinny Hammond and head of athletic performance Aled Walters will all make the trip down under. Legendary Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has joined Farrell’s backroom staff, too, ahead of taking up a full-time role with the IRFU in August.

Farrell also knows the Lions’ general manager of performance, Dave Nucifora (currently working as a performance consultant for the Scottish Rugby Union), from his successful decade as the IRFU’s performance director.

Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel and England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth will also be part of the coaching team. Farrell has, at present, selected no coaches from the Welsh set-up.

British & Irish Lions Tour Australia shirt

Lions shirt

The new Lions shirt features the rose, shamrock, thistle and feathers emblems woven into the fabric (Inpho/Canterbury)

The 2025 Lions kit was unveiled at a launch event in London in November 2024. The new Canterbury strip features a darker shade of red and a new headline sponsor, insurance brokers Howden. Two-time Lions captain Sam Warburton consulted on the design.

Canterbury British and Irish Lions shirt for Australia 2025 | £81.99 £70.00
The new jersey for next year’s tour has been released and it features a new deeper shade of red and some connected technology on every top that allows fans to scan and access an app.

Buy from SportsDirect

 

Previous British & Irish Lions tours

Lions fly half Finn Russell looks to pass before running into South Africa's Steven Kitshoff during the third test in 2021.

Winning a Lions series is always a tall order – as the tourists found in South Africa in 2021. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

This summer’s Lions tour to Australia is the latest instalment in a story that stretches all the way back to 1888. From the victorious 1971 adventure in New Zealand that featured Gareth Edwards and Willie John McBride (and has since gone down in rugby legend) to the Warren Gatland team who took the spoils from the Aussies in 2013, the team is steeped in history. The idea that players from four nations can assemble every few years to take on the best teams in the southern hemisphere remains one of the most romantic notions in sport, even in rugby’s professional era.

The first British & Irish Lions tour took place in 1888, when a group of former England cricketers led a party of 22 players on an epic 249-day tour of Australia and New Zealand. It was a brilliant idea that quickly caught on, and groups of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh players have regularly come together to take on the southern hemisphere giants on their own turf.

The Lions haven’t won a tour since their previous trip to Australia in 2013 (their only tour victory this century), so they’ll be hoping to rediscover some of that magic down under.

Here’s an overview of past British & Irish Lions tours.

Year Destination Test series Head coach Tour captain
1888 New Zealand
and Australia		 No tests
played		 Alfred Shaw,
Arthur Shrewsbury		 Robert Seddon,
Andrew Stoddart
1891 South Africa Lions win Edwin Ash Bill Maclagan
1896 South Africa Lions win Roger Walker Johnny Hammond,
Thomas Crean
1899 Australia Lions win Matthew Mullineux Matthew Mullineux,
Frank Stout
1903 South Africa Lions loss Johnny Hammond Mark Morrison
1904 Australia Lions win Arthur O’Brien David Bedell-Sivright,
Teddy Morgan
1904 New Zealand Lions loss Arthur O’Brien David Bedell-Sivright,
Teddy Morgan
1908 New Zealand Lions loss George Harnett Arthur Harding
1908 Australia No tests
played		 George Harnett Arthur Harding
1910 South Africa Lions loss William Cail,
Walter E Rees		 Tommy Smyth,
Jack Jones
1910 Argentina Lions win RV Stanley John Raphael
1924 South Africa Lions loss Harry Packer Ronald Cove-Smith
1927 Argentina Lions win James Baxter David MacMyn
1930 New Zealand Lions loss James Baxter Doug Prentice,
Carl Aarvold
1930 Australia Lions loss James Baxter Doug Prentice,
Carl Aarvold
1936 Argentina Lions win Doug Prentice Bernard Gadney
1938 South Africa Lions loss Major BC Hartley Sam Walker
1950 New Zealand Lions loss Leslie B Oborne Karl Mullen,
Bleddyn Williams
1950 Australia Lions win Leslie B Oborne Karl Mullen,
Bleddyn Williams
1955 South Africa Tie Jack Siggins Robin Thompson,
Cliff Morgan
1959 Australia Lions win OB Glasgow Ronnie Dawson
1959 New Zealand Lions loss OB Glasgow Ronnie Dawson
1962 South Africa Lions loss Harry McKibbin Arthur Smith,
Dickie Jeeps
1966 Australia Lions win John Robins David Watkins,
Mike Campbell-Lamerton
1966 New Zealand Lions loss John Robins David Watkins,
Mike Campbell-Lamerton
1968 South Africa Lions loss Ronnie Dawson Tom Kiernan
1971 New Zealand Lions win Carwyn James John Dawes
1974 South Africa Lions win Syd Millar Willie John McBride
1977 New Zealand Lions loss John Dawes Phil Bennett
1980 South Africa Lions loss Noel Murphy Bill Beaumont
1983 New Zealand Lions loss Jim Telfer Ciaran Fitzgerald
1989 Australia Lions win Ian McGeechan Finlay Calder
1993 New Zealand Lions loss Ian McGeechan Gavin Hastings
1997 South Africa Lions win Ian McGeechan Martin Johnson
2001 Australia Lions loss Graham Henry Martin Johnson
2005 New Zealand Lions loss Clive Woodward Brian O’Driscoll
2009 South Africa Lions loss Ian McGeechan Paul O’Connell
2013 Australia Lions win Warren Gatland Sam Warburton
2017 New Zealand Tie Warren Gatland Sam Warburton
2021 South Africa Lions loss Warren Gatland Alun Wyn Jones

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