Introduction to British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia 2025

Through my blog, I will discuss who in my opinion deserves to be called up to the British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia in 2025. Through this first post, I will be discussing, the coaching staff, squad format, and fixtures. 

Background information

The British & Irish Lions are a select team from the amalgamation of 4 major rugby nations; England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The team selection takes into consideration many factors such as national team form, club form, and style of play. The tour takes place every 4 years, rotating between visiting South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The games are always known to be a fierce contest providing closely contested games with an excellent standard of rugby on show. While visiting the nations the team tends to play a lot of fixtures, playing both club sides, and national sides. The Lions tour began in 1888 visiting Australia and New Zealand. Through the years the side began to face South Africa and even played one-off games against Argentina, and Japan. 



Coaching Staff

This tour's head coach is Andy Farrell. Farrell is the current coach of the Irish National Team. Farrell was previously involved in the Lions set up as the defence coach in 2013, and 2017, under Warren Gatland. The appointment comes off the back of Farrell receiving the 2023 World Rugby Coach of the Year, following his highly successful spell with Ireland winning back-to-back Six Nations Titles. Farrell's playing career predominantly saw him play Rugby League representing Great Britain 34 times, and England 11 times. Farrell then switched to play Rugby Union representing England 8 times. All of his coaching experience has come through rugby union having roles at several different clubs such as; Saracens, Munster, England, and then Ireland. Farrell is still yet to reveal the rest of his coaching staff for the tour. 




Fixtures

While visiting Australia, Farrell's side will play 9 fixtures. To kick off the tour they play world current world number 6 Argentina in Ireland. The side will then travel to Australia and play an intense schedule. The first 3 games in Australia will be expected to be an easy win for the Lions, facing Western Force, Queensland Reds, and the New South Wales Waratahs. The following 2 games might provide a tougher test, facing ACT Brumbies, and an invitational New Zealand & Australia XV. In the final 3 games, the Lions face the Wallabies twice, and in between the Wallabies, game play the Melbourne Rebels. However, the fixture against the Rebels may be in jeopardy as they withdrew from Super Rugby 2025 due to financial difficulties.


Squad Format

The Lions carry a large squad for the tour, rotating thoroughly across the fixtures. The previous tour saw the Lions carry a 37-man squad, and we can assume there will be a similar amount this time. 


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