Lions Down Under: The British Lions Tour 2025
British Lions Tour 2025 To Australia: A Rugby Rivalry Renewed.
The tourists last visited in 2013 and, under the leadership of Warren Gatland, emerged victorious. Will they be able to repeat this feat in 2025? At the time of writing, the Lions record stands at; 660 games, 494 wins, 32 draws and 134 losses.
Who Are The British & Irish Lions?
So before we focus on the British Lions Tour 2025 that will be upon us soon enough, let’s look back at the history.
The British & Irish Lions is a rugby team that is made up of players from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The team is selected every four years to tour one of the major rugby-playing countries, such as South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia.
The first tour by the British & Irish Lions took place in 1888, when a team made up of players from England, Scotland, and Wales traveled to Australia and New Zealand. The team played 35 matches in total, winning 14 and losing 21.
The Lions have since toured many countries and have had mixed results. They have had some successful tours, such as the 1971 tour to New Zealand, where they won the series 2-1, and the 1997 tour to South Africa, where they also won the series 2-1. However, they have also had some unsuccessful tours, such as the 2005 tour to New Zealand, where they lost the series 3-0.
In recent years, the Lions have toured in Australia(2013) and New Zealand(2017). The British & Irish Lions secured their first series victory in 16 years in the most emphatic fashion in Sydney as they defeated Australia 2-1 in 2013. So when the British Lions Tour 2025 is underway, can they repeat this outcome once again?
The British & Irish Lions led by Warren Gatland proved to be formidable opponents for the All Blacks, the reigning two-time world champions, in an exciting three-match Test series that exceeded expectations. Despite losing the first Test at Eden Park, the Lions fought back and won the second Test in Wellington, just as they had done in 1993. They then returned to Auckland and tied the third and final Test, resulting in a tied Test series, a feat only previously achieved in the 1955 Tour of South Africa.
In 2021, The British & Irish Lions faced the daunting task of traveling to South Africa for their Tour amidst a global pandemic. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, the team managed to stage the Tour successfully and delivered some thrilling performances. The opening match in Cape Town was a nail-biter, with the Lions ultimately coming out on top with a 22-17 victory. However, they were unable to maintain the momentum and lost the second game 27-9.
The series was decided in the final Test, which was a tense and closely contested match. The Lions put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell short, with the South Africa team securing a 2-1 series win with a 19-16 victory. One of the key moments in the final Test was when 37-year-old fly-half Morne Steyn, who came off the bench, kicked the winning penalty, just as he had done in the second Test in 2009.
It was a memorable Tour for both teams and fans, and despite the loss, the Lions can take pride in their performances against a formidable South Africa team. Next on the fixture list is the British Lions Tour 2025 down under.
Top Point Scorers
Throughout the British & Irish Lions’ history, spanning over 100 years and 660 tour matches, several players have made their mark in the record books by scoring a significant number of points. The top 5 point scorers of all time for the Lions are:
- Andy Irvine: 281 points
- Phil Bennett: 236 points
- Bob Hiller: 214 points
- Gavin Hastings: 192 points
- Barry John: 188 points
These players have left an indelible mark on the history of the Lions, and their contributions on the field will always be remembered.
Greatest Series
In 1974, the British & Irish Lions traveled to South Africa and created history by becoming the only unbeaten Lions tour in the post-war era. The team, captained by Willie John McBride, recorded an impressive 21 wins out of 22 matches, with the only draw coming in the final test after the series had already been secured.
Many consider this team to be the greatest to ever play the game. Their success can be attributed to the exceptional talent of the players, as well as their strategy known as the “99 call,” where all team members would gather to retaliate if they felt the opposition was getting too physical, fighting fire with fire. This added a new dimension to the game and further cemented their legacy as one of the greatest teams in the history of rugby.
27 JULY 1974: SOUTH AFRICA (6) 13, BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (10) 13 (Ellis Park)
The starting line-up for the final test match of the 1974 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa was as follows:
Forwards;
Ian McLauchlan
Bobby Windsor
Fran Cotton
Willie-John McBride (capt)
Christopher Ralston
Roger Uttley
Fergus Slattery
Mervyn Davies
Backs;
Gareth Edwards
Phil Bennett(C)
John Williams
Ian McGeechan
Andy Irvine(T/P)
JPR Williams
Dick Milliken
The team was mostly composed of players from Wales, Scotland and England, and the captaincy was led by Willie John McBride. This team was considered one of the greatest teams of all time and their performances during the tour are still remembered today for their skill, strength, and determination.
Although as Irvine put it in the book Behind the Lions: “What we have done is left a wee scope there for another team to go one better than us. The challenge is still there!”
Best Ever Lion?
I’ve watched rugby for decades and these are my top 12 nominations for the best ever Lion. How many of these would get into the British Lions Tour 2025 squad if they were still available?
- Martin Johnson – The captain of the 1997 and 2001 British & Irish Lions tours, Martin Johnson was a towering figure in the world of rugby union. He was known for his leadership, physicality, and ability to inspire his teammates.
- Gareth Edwards – Often considered one of the greatest rugby union players of all time, Gareth Edwards was a key member of the 1971 and 1974 British & Irish Lions tours. He was known for his vision, passing, and ability to create tries.
- Barry John – Widely regarded as one of the greatest fly-halves of all time, Barry John was a key member of the 1971 British & Irish Lions tour. He was known for his kicking, vision, and ability to control a game.
- Will Carling – Captain of the 1989 and 1993 British & Irish Lions tours, Will Carling was one of the best centers of his generation. He was known for his leadership, physicality, and ability to create opportunities for his teammates.
- Brian O’Driscoll – Widely considered as one of the greatest centers of all time, Brian O’Driscoll was a key member of the 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013 British & Irish Lions tours. He was known for his leadership, vision, and ability to create opportunities for his teammates. The former Ireland centre remains one of the biggest stars of recent memories.
- Jason Leonard – The long-serving England prop toured with the Lions four times, making a total of 21 test appearances between 1989 and 2005, the most by any British & Irish Lion. Jason Leonard was also part of the British & Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa in 1997, he is one of the most capped English player of all time.
He played as prop, and was known for his strength and durability. He appeared in all three test matches and helped the team to secure a 2-1 series victory over the Springboks. He is one of the most successful and respected players of his era and his contribution to the Lions’ success on that tour was significant. - Willie John McBride – Who holds the record for the most appearances for the British & Irish Lions, with 17 caps across five tours (1962, 1966, 1968, 1971, and 1974). He captained the team in 1974. He is considered one of the greatest locks of all time and one of the most famous players to have worn the Lions jersey.
- Jonny Wilkinson – Wilko may have only played in two full tours but still managed to make 16 test appearances as part of the Lions team due to his incredible work ethic and skill level. The former England fly-half is one of the most iconic figures in British rugby history. His solid kicking skills, accurate passing and unshakeable courage earned him legendary status among rugby fans around the world.
- Gavin Hastings – Scotland’s legendary full-back was on two trips with the Lions (1989 & 1993) and made 15 appearances for them during this time. The Scottish full-back captained the Lions to their decisive victory over New Zealand in 1993 and was one of the most dependable players on some contentious tours.
- Phil Bennett– Much loved Welsh scrum-half Bennett was a member of both the 1974 and 1977 tours, featuring in 13 tests along the way. Phil Bennett is a former Welsh scrum-half who was a member of both the 1974 and 1977 British & Irish Lions tours. He was known for his leadership, vision and ability to control a game. He was widely considered one of the best scrum halves of his time and his performances on the Lions tours helped to cement his place in the history of the game. He was famous for his sidestep, that helped him to create space and opportunity for his teammates.
- Jason Robinson – Known as ‘Billy Whizz’ due to his electric pace, Robinson was a key component in England’s 2003 World Cup triumph and a feared presence on both sides of the ball with the Lions. Jason Robinson is a former English Rugby Union player who was part of the British & Irish Lions squad on the 2001 tour of Australia.
He was known for his speed, agility, and ability to score tries, earning him the nickname “Billy Whizz.” He was considered one of the best wingers of his generation, and his performances for the Lions on the 2001 tour helped to establish him as one of the most exciting players in the game. He was famous for his sidestep and ability to beat the defensive line, and he was a real threat every time he had the ball in his hands. - Andy Irvine – A gifted attacker and goal-kicking wonder, competed in three British & Irish Lions Tours, including the historic 1974 victory in South Africa. Two years after his international debut against the All Blacks, the attacking full-back forced his way into the Test squad, although on the wing, for the series-clinching third Test in Port Elizabeth.
So although there are great players named above, the title goes to the points machine Andy Irvine
In the ten games leading up to that Test, he had scored over 100 points, and with his try in the final drawn Test, he finished the Tour with five tries and 156 points, a record tally for a Lion in South Africa.
He was similarly prolific in New Zealand three years later, where he equalled Malcolm Thomas’ 1959 record for most points in a single game on Kiwi soil by scoring 25 points against the Hanan Shield Districts, including an amazing solo try. His five tries against Wanganui/King County was also a new record for the most tries scored by a Lions full-back in a single game.
He joined the South Africa Tour late in 1980 but ultimately featured in three of the four Tests. He also earned 51 caps for Scotland and upon his retirement, his 301 Test points were a world record. Still the Lions record points-scorer with 274, he served as the tour manager on the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia.
British Lions Tour 2025 Prices.
As of yet, there are no prices for British Lions Tour 2025 tickets or hospitality available.
Fixtures For British & Irish Lions Tour 2025.
Once the British Lions Tour 2025 fixtures are available, we will post these with the dates, kick-off times and also TV schedules.
