British and Irish Lions to play a First Nations selection as part of 2025 tour to Australia
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The British and Irish Lions will play a First Nations lineup in Melbourne as part of the nine-game tour of Australia that includes three test matches against Joe Schmidt's Wallabies.
Rugby Australia confirmed the final itinerary Thursday, 100 days before the Lions tour begins. It also includes a tour match between the Lions and an AUNZ Invitation XV, featuring players from Australia and New Zealand, in Adelaide a week before the first test in Brisbane on July 19.
The July 22 match against the First Nations selection, including Indigenous Australian and Pasifika players, fills a void in the itinerary created when the Melbourne Rebels franchise was dropped from the Super Rugby tournament.
Andy Farrell will be coaching the Lions squad which includes players from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.
It "will be a great celebration of those who continue to contribute enormously to the Australian rugby community,” Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said.
The Lions tour Australia every 12 years in a cycle of southern tours that also include series in South Africa and New Zealand. The 2025 tour kicks off against the Western Force in Perth on June 28.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
-
Foster to coach Australia/NZ side against Lions
Former New Zealand boss Ian Foster will coach a combined Australia/New Zealand XV against the British and Irish Lions on their 2025 tour of Australia.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
British and Irish Lions tour 2025: Team news, fixtures and venues
Every four years, a British and Irish Lions tour is still seen by many as the peak of professional rugby, with the finest players from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland joining forces.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Andy Farrell to take Simon Easterby on Lions tour as part of Irish-dominated coaching team
Andy Farrell is set to appoint Simon Easterby to an Ireland-dominated Lions coaching team, Telegraph Sport understands, with no England assistants likely to make the tour to Australia.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Jordan plays down Lions talk as he relishes first Six Nations with Scotland
Tom Jordan says he has paid no attention to people tipping him as a possible bolter for Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad, and says playing Six Nations rugby for Scotland was something ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Our experts pick their Lions squad to tour Australia
With the Lions tour just over three months away, Telegraph Sport’s experts pick their squads for Australia.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Farrell looks likely to overlook England coaches for his British Lions staff
Borthwick said backroom team not been approached Coaches set to miss out for second straight Lions tour Andy Farrell looks likely to overlook England’s assistants when selecting his British & ...The Guardian - 4d -
Lions watch: The players who improved – or harmed – their chances during Six Nations
British and Irish Lions selection was a constant talking point throughout the Six Nations Championship. In almost every position there have been at least three or four players who have stood out, ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Steve Borthwick is here to stay – but issues need fixing for England to be World Cup contenders
Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, will have mixed feelings about the almost-imminent British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. He will be pleased that his team’s second place in this year’s ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
This is my Lions team – with Caelan Doris over Maro Itoje as captain
In picking this Lions team, I have done so on the basis that it is for a Test match to be played against Australia next Saturday. If it were for a Test in July some currently injured players would ...Yahoo Sports - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Louisville basketball roster 2025-26: An early look at Pat Kelsey's team for Year 2
After Louisville basketball's loss to Creighton in first found of March Madness, here's an early look at Pat Kelsey's next 2025-26 Louisville roster:Yahoo Sports - 23m -
CB Jaylon Jones agrees to terms with Cardinals
Cornerback Jaylon Jones is set for a move to Arizona.Yahoo Sports - 23m -
CB Jaylon Jones agrees to terms with Cardinals
Cornerback Jaylon Jones is set for a move to Arizona.Yahoo Sports - 23m -
March Madness 2025: No. 9 Creighton blitzes No. 8 Louisville in first half on the way to an easy win
The Blue Jays led by 15 at halftime and cruised in the second half.Yahoo Sports - 24m -
March Madness 2025: No. 9 Creighton blitzes No. 8 Louisville in first half on the way to an easy win
The Blue Jays led by 15 at halftime and cruised in the second half.Yahoo Sports - 24m
More in Sports
-
Andy Robertson: Liverpool career far from over
Andrew Robertson has brushed off criticism of his Liverpool performances this season and insisted that his time at Anfield is not coming to an end.ESPN - 21m -
Games eye L.A. 'rebirth,' Kendrick Lamar role
After deadly fires devastated much of Los Angeles, organizers of the 2028 Games told the IOC how the city will rebuild with their help.ESPN - 21m -
Clemson vs. McNeese odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for McNeese Cowboys vs. Clemson Tigers on Thursday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 22m -
Louisville basketball roster 2025-26: An early look at Pat Kelsey's team for Year 2
After Louisville basketball's loss to Creighton in first found of March Madness, here's an early look at Pat Kelsey's next 2025-26 Louisville roster:Yahoo Sports - 23m -
![Damar Hamlin re-signs with Bills: 'I want to spend my whole career [in Buffalo]'](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2023/01/04/c2a45d53-6056-43a1-97c7-848822580edc/getty-damar-hamlin-bills.jpg)
Damar Hamlin re-signs with Bills: 'I want to spend my whole career [in Buffalo]'
Hamlin started 14 games in 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest in January 2023CBS Sports - 23m