Can British and Irish Lions tour save rugby in Australia? July 18, 2025 It is a crying shame to see rugby union drop so far behind Aussie Rules, the NRL and football Down Under, even as the British and Irish Lions get set to take on the Wallabies in the first of three Tests this weekend. But I am not surprised, given the state of Australian rugby at [...]
Lack of Welsh Lions shows stark reality of systemic failures July 11, 2025 Ahead of Wednesday’s British and Irish Lions midweek game against the Brumbies in the Australian capital of Canberra I came across a shocking statistic. The match was the first since 1899 not to include a Welshman from the matchday 23. I am not surprised that it has happened on this tour given only two Welshmen [...]
British and Irish Lions: Aussie pubs certain there’s enough Guinness July 7, 2025 British and Irish Lions rugby fans can fly to Australia assured that the “Guinness will be flowing” after pub chiefs Down Under quelled fears that bars could run dry this month. Australian reports raised concerns surrounding a potential lack of beer stockpiles ahead of the Lions’ three-Test series against the Wallabies, which begins on 19 [...]
British and Irish Lions should tour France and Argentina July 4, 2025 While watching the British and Irish Lions take on the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, I started thinking about what other sides across the world would make good opponents for the touring team. The Lions of late have always ventured to the same three nations – South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – and they will [...]
Where to watch the British and Irish Lions tour in London June 28, 2025 The British and Irish Lions tour continues this month as the touring side looks for a first series win since 2013. But where in London can fans watch the action? For those who cannot spend thousands travelling to Australia there are a number of spots in London putting on special breakfast offerings for the duration [...]
British and Irish Lions player row doesn’t short-change fans June 27, 2025 Seeing the war of words erupt between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia this week has given me a bit of a buzz for the tour. This is what the quadrennial series is all about, the niggle of pre-Test series angst. But when push comes to shove it is all bravado and showmanship, [...]
Lions 1-0 Australia: Wallabies make concessions and release players June 25, 2025 The British and Irish Lions have had an early tour win after Rugby Australia bosses made concessions after a player availability row. The Lions had complained that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt wanted to keep his core Australia players in camp ahead of a three-Test series against the touring side that begins on 19 July. This [...]
Israel and Iran missile tensions causing chaos for British and Irish Lions fans June 24, 2025 Missile tensions between Iran and Israel in the Middle East have caused travel chaos for British and Irish Lions fans heading to Australia. Large numbers of rugby fans heading Down Under to be in Perth in time for Saturday’s opening match of the British and Irish Lions tour are flying via Doha, the UAE and [...]
Australia rugby coach rejects Lions contract breach warnings June 24, 2025 The coach of Australia’s rugby team Joe Schmidt has rejected the notion that his side would be breaching their playing contract with the British and Irish Lions. Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said that the clubs the touring side will face before a three-Test series against Australia must play their Wallaby internationals otherwise they’d be [...]
Will British and Irish Lions sue Rugby Australia over player eligibility row? June 23, 2025 If you were to list the top moments from each of the last five British and Irish Lions tours then you’d almost certainly find that at least one entry didn’t happen on the pitch. In 2021 it was South African coach Rassie Erasmus breaking down the flaws in refereeing calls, and in 2017 it was [...]