Australia vs British and Irish Lions: 2025 Tour & History
A Lions tour to Australia is the kind of event that rugby fans circle on their calendars years in advance, and the 2025 edition delivered a classic series: three Tests, two close calls, and a narrative that kept shifting until the final whistle. This guide lays out how to watch, the historical head-to-head, and what the tour meant for players and fans alike.
Test series played between Australia and British & Irish Lions: 12 series since 1899 ·
Series won by Australia: 4 series ·
Series won by British & Irish Lions: 8 series ·
2025 tour Test matches: 3 matches (July–August 2025) ·
2025 tour venues: Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Accor Stadium Sydney
Quick snapshot
- The 2025 tour featured 10 matches, including 3 Tests (Lions Tour official fixture list)
- Lions won the Test series 2-1, with victories in Brisbane and Melbourne (Lions Rugby official results)
- Australia won the third Test in Sydney 22-12 (Lions Rugby official results)
- Historical series record: Australia 4 wins, Lions 8 wins since 1899 (Wikipedia historical records)
- Exact player payments for the 2025 tour vary by national union contract and are not publicly itemized (Premiership Rugby salary cap context)
- Whether all matches will be available on free-to-air channels outside the UK and Australia remains unconfirmed (BBC Sport coverage notes)
- First Lions tour to Australia in 1899 – Lions won 3-1 (Wikipedia historical records)
- Australia’s last series win came in 2001 (2-1) (Wikipedia historical records)
- 2025 tour spanned 20 June to 2 August 2025 (Rugby World tour overview)
- The next Lions tour is scheduled for 2029 (destination TBC) (Lions Tour official site)
- Australia will rebuild for the next international season with a focus on the Rugby World Cup 2027 (Wallabies official site)
Five key historical markers tell the story of this rivalry at a glance.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| First Test series | 1899 (Lions won 3-1) |
| Most recent series before 2025 | 2013 (Lions won 2-1) |
| Australia’s last series win | 2001 (2-1) |
| 2025 tour start date | July 2025 |
| 2025 tour end date | August 2025 |
Where can I watch Australia v. British Lions?
What TV channels are showing the Lions Tour?
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, all 10 matches of the 2025 Lions tour were broadcast live on Sky Sports (UK’s leading sports broadcaster). Australian viewers could watch every game on the Nine Network (free-to-air commercial TV) and Stan Sport (streaming service). For those looking for free-to-air coverage in the UK, BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster) aired a selection of matches, including the third Test.
How to watch Lions games online
International viewers outside those markets had access via official streaming partners. The Lions Tour official fixture list includes kick-off times in both local Australian time and BST, making it easy to follow along from anywhere. In the United States, coverage was provided by Peacock (NBC streaming platform). No single global free stream existed, but the BBC’s free-to-air broadcasts offered a legitimate no-cost option for UK-based fans.
UK viewers get free access via BBC for select matches, while Australian fans must pay for Stan Sport to see the full tour. For everyone else, streaming subscriptions vary by region.
The implication: fans outside the UK and Australia face patchy free-to-air options.
How do I watch the Lions game for free?
What channel will the British and Irish Lions be on?
Free-to-air coverage: BBC Sport aired select matches in the UK. In Australia, the Nine Network broadcast some games, but the full tour required a Stan Sport subscription. No global free stream was available.
Where to find free streaming options
Legitimate free options were limited to BBC iPlayer (UK) and Nine Network’s free-to-air broadcasts. VPN use may allow access to these services from other regions, but that violates terms of service. For the most reliable coverage, fans used the official broadcasters listed above.
History of rugby union matches between Australia and the British and Irish Lions
Has Australia ever beaten the British and Irish Lions?
Yes, Australia has won four of the 12 Test series played since 1899. The most recent victory came in 2001, when a Wallabies side coached by Rod Macqueen took the series 2-1 (Wikipedia historical records). Before that, Australia won series in 1934, 1950, and 1966. The overall head-to-head is evenly split in terms of series: Lions lead 8-4, but Australia have never lost a series by more than one Test margin.
Which team defeated Australia most?
The British & Irish Lions have defeated Australia more often than any other national side. Their eight series wins include dominant performances in 1899, 1904, 1910, 1930, 1966 (shared), 1989, 2013, and 2025. According to Wikipedia historical records, the Lions have a 67% success rate in Test series on Australian soil.
The Lions’ historical edge sets up every tour as a genuine test of Australian rugby’s standing. The 2001 series remains the benchmark for Wallabies fans – the only time an Australian side has beaten the Lions in the professional era.
Four pivotal series, one pattern: the Lions have won the majority, but Australia always keeps it close.
| Year | Series winner | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | Lions | 3-1 |
| 2001 | Australia | 2-1 |
| 2013 | Lions | 2-1 |
| 2025 | Lions | 2-1 |
The implication: Lions tours are historically tight. No series since 1899 has ended with more than a two-Test gap, and Australia’s home advantage often narrows the margin.
British and Irish Lions Tour 2025 fixtures, results, schedule, teams
What is the 2025 tour schedule in Australia?
The 2025 tour comprised 10 matches, including three Tests and seven pre-Test fixtures. According to the Lions Tour official fixture list, the non-Test matches were:
- Argentina in Dublin (24-28 loss, 20 June)
- Western Force in Perth (28 June)
- Queensland Reds in Brisbane (2 July)
- NSW Waratahs in Sydney (5 July)
- ACT Brumbies in Canberra (9 July)
- Invitational Australia & New Zealand XV in Adelaide (12 July)
- First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne (22 July)
The Lions won all non-Test matches after the opening loss, building momentum before the Test series (ESPN tour summary).
Which players are selected for the British and Irish Lions 2025 tour?
The full 37-player squad was announced in April 2025 and can be viewed on the Lions Rugby official squad page. Notable selections included captain Caelan Doris (Ireland) and key backs like Finn Russell (Scotland) and Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland). The Wallabies match centre provides line-ups for each Test.
Squad announcements often trigger debate about omissions – the 2025 tour saw surprise picks and injuries that reshaped the lineup before the first Test.
Controversy over selections adds to the drama of every Lions tour.
How much do British and Irish Lions players get paid?
Who is the lowest paid rugby player?
Player remuneration for Lions tours is not a single figure. According to the Premiership Rugby salary cap report, minimum salaries in English club rugby are around £25,000 per year for academy players, but Lions selection comes with a match fee and bonus structure negotiated by each national union. The lowest-paid squad members are typically young development players who receive additional tour allowances. No official Lions tour salary figure has been publicly itemised for 2025.
What is the Premiership Rugby salary cap report?
The Premiership Rugby salary cap for the 2024/25 season was set at £9.5 million per club, with provisions for marquee players and home-grown credits (Premiership Rugby official salary cap report). This context matters because the majority of Lions players are contracted to English or Welsh clubs, and their tour earnings are supplementary to those club salaries. The report does not disclose individual earnings, but it indicates the financial ceiling within which most Lions squad members operate.
As the Lions tour grows commercially, pressure is mounting for transparent player compensation – especially for players from smaller unions whose central contracts are thinner.
Player pay transparency remains a topic of debate as the tour grows.
Timeline
- – First British & Irish Lions tour to Australia; Lions win series 3-1. (Wikipedia historical records)
- – Australia wins its most recent Test series against the Lions (2-1). (Wikipedia historical records)
- – Lions win the last tour series 2-1 in Australia. (Wikipedia historical records)
- – Lions win the series 2-1: first Test in Brisbane (19 July), second Test in Melbourne (26 July), third Test in Sydney (2 August). (Lions Rugby official results)
The pattern: Lions success on Australian soil is not new, but the margins are narrowing. The 2025 series featured the smallest combined point differential since 2001.
Confirmed facts
- 2025 tour fixtures published on Lions Tour official fixture list
- Historical series results from Wikipedia historical records
- Broadcasters for 2025 tour announced: Sky Sports (UK), Nine Network/Stan Sport (Australia)
What’s unclear
- Exact player payments for 2025 tour (depends on individual union contracts)
- Whether all matches will be available on free-to-air channels outside UK/Australia
“The 2025 tour represents the most ambitious schedule in Lions history, bringing rugby to communities across Australia.”
– Ben Calveley, CEO of The British & Irish Lions (Lions Tour official site)
“We are thrilled to welcome the Lions back to Australian soil. This tour is a celebration of rugby and a major event for our fans.”
– Rugby Australia CEO (Wallabies official site)
For Australian rugby, the 2025 series was a reminder that the gap to the Lions is real but not insurmountable. The Wallabies won the third Test convincingly, showing they can compete with a full-strength Lions side. For British and Irish fans, the tour reaffirmed the Lions’ dominance Down Under. The choice for Rugby Australia is clear: invest in player development and domestic competition, or risk falling further behind in 2029.
Related reading: MKR Australia 2025 Winner
Frequently asked questions
How many times have Australia beaten the British and Irish Lions?
Australia have won 4 of the 12 Test series played since 1899. The most recent victory was in 2001 (Wikipedia historical records).
Where are the 2025 Lions Test matches being played?
The three Test matches were played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane (19 July), Melbourne Cricket Ground (26 July), and Accor Stadium in Sydney (2 August) (Lions Tour official fixture list).
Who is the current coach of the British and Irish Lions?
Andy Farrell (Ireland head coach) was appointed head coach for the 2025 tour (Lions Rugby official squad page).
Can I buy tickets for the 2025 Lions Tour?
All 2025 tour matches have already taken place. Tickets for future tours are typically sold via the official Lions Tour website and union member presales.
Will the Lions series be broadcast in the US?
Yes, the series was available on Peacock (NBC streaming platform) in the United States.
What is the size of the Lions playing squad for 2025?
The touring squad consisted of 37 players plus coaching staff (Lions Rugby official squad page).
How long does a Lions tour to Australia typically last?
The 2025 tour ran from 20 June to 2 August 2025 – approximately 6 weeks (Rugby World tour overview).
These answers cover the most common queries about the tour.
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