A huge economic boost, 40,000 British and Irish visitors in a swathe of red supporter gear, and the combined rugby union might of four countries set to take on Australia.
The 10-match British and Irish Lions tour — a once-every-12-year occasion for Australia — is to begin next month and local organizers are already primed for the influx of rugby-loving visitors from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The first of three Test matches is in Brisbane on July 19. The second Test is scheduled for July 26 in Melbourne and the third in Sydney on Aug. 2.
Photo: Reuters
“The Lions is something that tends to reach beyond just the rugby union fans because it’s such an infrequent tour,” Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said yesterday during a visit to Suncorp Stadium. “People just get interested and we’d love to earn the support of all those folk by being really competitive.”
“I’d love to think we’re in the hunt,” he added.
The first Lions tour in 1888 comprised mostly English players, and included matches in Australia and New Zealand. The tradition grew and since 1989, a Lions squad featuring Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales players has toured every four years on a rotational basis to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Andy Farrell is head coach of a 38-man squad for this year’s tour, with England lock Maro Itoje captain.
Australian rugby has declined since its historic 2001 series victory over the Lions. The 1999 Rugby World Cup champions recovered to clinch that series with back-to-back wins in Melbourne and Sydney after a first-Test loss in Brisbane, when the Wallabies were stunned by a crowd overwhelmingly dominated by visiting fans.
After failing to make the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in 2023, Australia have been in a rebuilding phase under New Zealand-born Schmidt, a former Ireland coach. The Wallabies had six wins in 13 Tests last season, but an influx of new players and some improved performances have increased expectations for 2025.
The Wallabies are No. 8 in the World Rugby rankings for men’s international teams and need to improve quickly to get a good seeding for the 2027 World Cup, which Australia is to host.
We “need a series of really good performances and, and it’s something that we’re aspirational about and we work really hard behind the scenes to try to get into the mix,” Schmidt said. “I think some of the promising signs, the way the Wallabies finished off last year, the way the Super Rugby teams have competed this year, and so it’s our challenge to try to continue that.”
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