Australia v British & Irish Lions 2025: Dates, fixtures, venues & more

The excitement for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia is growing after the announcement of the schedule.

It looks set to be another iconic Test series between the Lions and the Wallabies, while there are also set to be some firsts that will add even more intrigue to this prestigious sporting event.

What is the Australia 2025 Lions Tour?

The best eligible players England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales have to offer will head to Australia nine-match tour, including a three-match Test series with the Wallabies.

This series will include an iconic first match between the Lions and a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV.

The clash will take place in Adelaide and will be a historic fixture that will proceed the three-match Test series.

In another first, the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the second Test between the tourists and Australia, in a match that will likely break the attendance record for a Lions game.

The MCG holds up to 100,000 people and the site of a full stadium with a sea of red amongst green and gold will be an inspiring scene to behold.

Rugby Australia chief executive, and former Wallabies back-rower, Phil Waugh is relishing the prospect of welcoming the Lions back in 2025.

"Rugby Australia is looking forward to welcoming back the Lions for the first time in 12 years - as well as the tens of thousands of Lions fans from the northern hemisphere," Waugh said.

"It is an exciting fixture of matches all around the country with the Lions taking on our Super Rugby franchises, three massive Test matches, and a marquee match in Adelaide featuring a combined invitational Australia-New Zealand side."

Australia 2025 Lions Tour dates and venues

Date	Home team	Away team	Venue
28th June	Western Force	British & Irish Lions	Perth Stadium, Perth, Western Australia
2nd July	Queensland Reds	British & Irish Lions	Lang Park, Brisbane, Queensland
5th July	New South Wales Waratahs	British & Irish Lions	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales
9th July	ACT Brumbies	British & Irish Lions	Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
12th July	Invitational AU & NZ	British & Irish Lions	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, South Australia
19th July	Australia	British & Irish Lions	Lang Park, Brisbane, Queensland
22nd July	Melbourne Rebels	British & Irish Lions	Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria
26th July	Australia	British & Irish Lions	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Victoria
2nd August	Australia	British & Irish Lions	Stadium Australia, Sydney, New South Wales

What happened the last time the Lions toured Australia?

The Lions secured a 2-1 Test series win over the Wallabies in their last tour of Australia back in 2013.

It was a thrilling series that had thrills and spills throughout but it was head coach Warren Gatland who saw his side claim a 23-21 win in the opening Test in Brisbane.

The Wallabies, with head coach Robbie Deans at the helm, responded to win the second Test in Melbourne 16-15.

It all came down to the final Test at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney and it was the Lions who ran riot to win the decider 41-16.

The win in Australia in 2013 has proven to be the last series victory for the Lions, after drawing the following series 1-1 in New Zealand, before losing the next 2-1 in South Africa.