Everything to Know About the British & Irish Lions’ Return to Australia

Meta-description: The Lions are roaring back after a 12-year hiatus. Find out all there is to know about the British & Irish Lions Tour’s return to Australian shores in 2025.

For the uninitiated, the British & Irish Lions represent the pinnacle of northern hemisphere rugby, bringing together the cream of the crop from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It’s a rugby institution with a storied history dating back over a century.

The 2025 tour will be a nationwide rugby festival with nine matches spread across six Australian cities: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Canberra, and Adelaide. Tourism officials are expecting more than 40,000 visitors to make the journey from the UK and Ireland, transforming Australian stadiums into seas of red as the famous Lions supporters follow their team across the country.

If the 2017 tour to New Zealand is anything to go by… 

The last series produced some unforgettable moments – Sean O’Brien’s spectacular try, Owen Farrell’s clutch penalty in Wellington that snapped the All Blacks’ 47-game home winning streak, and that nail-biting final draw in Auckland that left both teams sharing the spoils.

The Lions will be brimming with confidence heading into this series. Their last visit to Australia in 2013 ended in triumph, with Warren Gatland’s men securing a 2-1 series victory. That tour created lifelong memories for fans who witnessed George North’s incredible Test try in Brisbane and experienced the dramatic series decider in Sydney.

For Australian fans, this represents a chance to see some of the northern hemisphere’s finest talents on home soil. For visitors, it’s not just about the rugby – it’s the opportunity to combine world-class sport with exploring Australia’s iconic landscapes, from the Whitsunday Islands to Uluru.

The British & Irish Lions Tour represents rugby at its most passionate and compelling. It’s a sporting spectacle that only comes around every four years, and Australia gets the privilege just once every 12 years. When these two rugby powerhouses collide, it’s literally history in the making.

European quarter-finals update

As the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia inches closer, the European quarter-finals provided the perfect stage for players to catch the eye of newly appointed Lions head coach Andy Farrell. With the squad announcement set for May 8, these high-stakes knockout matches offered players a golden opportunity to showcase their talents when it mattered most.

The weekend’s rugby served up a feast of stellar individual performances, with players fighting not just for European glory but potentially for those coveted red jerseys. Farrell will be looking closely at who can deliver under intense pressure – and several players answered that call emphatically.

Leinster’s demolition job in the Champions Cup raised eyebrows across the rugby world. Their astonishing 114-0 aggregate scoreline across two knockout matches speaks volumes about their dominance. Against the Glasgow Warriors, the Irish province delivered a masterclass in clinical rugby, running in 52 unanswered points against the reigning URC champions.

Young fly-half Sam Prendergast stood out with his composed game management and eye-catching 60-meter spiral kick that will surely have impressed the Lions coaching team. His half-back partner, Jamison Gibson-Park, expertly controlled the tempo, while Hugo Keenan reminded everyone of his attacking credentials by finishing a perfectly weighted Prendergast grubber. Josh van der Flier’s carrying power over the full 80 minutes further boosted his Lions credentials in an ultra-competitive back-row field.

Across the Irish Sea, Northampton Saints put on a show of their own, thrashing Castres 51-16 to book their place in the Champions Cup final against Leinster at Croke Park. The Saints’ young guns were firing on all cylinders, with 20-year-old Henry Pollock grabbing headlines and a brace of tries. Despite his youth, some pundits are already suggesting him as a potential bolter for Farrell’s Lions squad.

England’s half-back pairing of Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith orchestrated the Saints’ attack brilliantly. Mitchell, in particular, showed exceptional awareness around the fringes, creating both of Pollock’s tries with sharp breaks from the base of the ruck. On the wing, Tommy Freeman continued his red-hot scoring form, crossing the whitewash after some slick interplay with George Furbank, whose timely return from injury adds another quality option to the Lion’s back-three conversation.

The Challenge Cup also showcased potential Lions. Bath’s pursuit of a treble continues with Finn Russell pulling the strings in a comprehensive victory over local rivals Gloucester. Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman demonstrated his big-match temperament with a crucial turnover against his former club to send the Scottish side into the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Owen Farrell – son of the Lions coach – gave his father something to think about with a clutch drop goal helping Racing 92 edge past Connacht by just three points. In a field increasingly dominated by young playmakers, could Farrell’s experience and proven nerve in pressure moments earn him a spot on the plane to Australia?

As knockout rugby continues, these performances will be fresh in Andy Farrell’s mind when he sits down to make those final, agonising selection decisions for what promises to be an unforgettable Lions tour Down Under.

The perfect pairing of rugby tradition and excellence

Rugby Australia and the British & Irish Lions have jointly announced Gilbert as the official and exclusive match ball supplier for the highly anticipated 2025 tour of Australia. The partnership also secures Gilbert’s continued role as the Wallabies’ official ball and protective wear provider.

This collaboration reinforces Gilbert’s standing as rugby’s premier ball manufacturer, adding another prestigious competition to their impressive portfolio that spans the globe’s top tournaments across both men’s and women’s rugby.

With a heritage dating back to 1823 – when William Gilbert supplied some of the very first rugby balls to Rugby School in the days of William Webb Ellis – Gilbert celebrates over two centuries of rugby craftsmanship. The company’s iconic coloured ellipse trims have become synonymous with the sport, enhancing players’ visibility and engagement for fans worldwide.

Rugby enthusiasts can look forward to a special commemorative range of licensed balls designed specifically for the tour, with the official Series Ball set to hit stores next month. The balls will feature unique designs celebrating this momentous sporting occasion.

Richie Mo’unga set for possible return against Lions in ANZAC clash

Former All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga could make a surprise return to high-profile international rugby this year, with reports suggesting he’s been invited to feature for the ANZAC team against the British & Irish Lions in Australia.

According to Japanese rugby sources, Mo’unga – who hasn’t donned the famous black jersey since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final – has been approached about playing in the special fixture scheduled for July 12 at Adelaide Oval.

The silky playmaker currently plies his trade with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan Rugby League One, where he’s made a significant impact, helping the club secure the league title last season. Despite persistent rumours about a potential return to New Zealand under his former Crusaders coach, Scott Robertson, Mo’unga remains committed to his Japanese club.

Mo’unga wouldn’t be the only star name in the ANZAC lineup, with former All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith and ex-Wallabies captain Michael Hooper also expected to feature in what promises to be one of the tour’s most enthralling encounters.

Where to get British & Irish Lions tickets

As we mentioned, this is not an event that comes along every year; in fact, the gap is quite significant, so missing these events is not an option! Luckily, you don’t have to; Queen of Tickets has a dedicated British & Irish Lions Australian tickets page. We have the best seats to all of the games at the best prices, so grab yours now and enjoy the epic clash!