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Details announced of historic first-ever Women's British and Irish Lions tour
By Kim Ekin
The British & Irish Lions has today announced details for the first-ever Lions Women’s Tour to travel to New Zealand in September 2027, with the Lions Women’s team playing three Tests against the Black Ferns.
Finalised full tour details including the tour schedule are yet to be announced, with assurances that the inaugural test match series will take place during the women's global competition window, and will not overlap with the men's Rugby World Cup 2027.
This announcement follows a feasibility study funded by Lions Founding Partner Royal London, who will also be the front of jersey sponsor for the official Lions Women’s Team jersey, which concluded that the optimum time for the Tour is 2027.
The feasibility study also investigated all key aspects of creating a Lions Women’s Tour with a consultation process exploring brand, commercial, financial, spectator, logistical, and scheduling considerations.
Ben Calveley, CEO, British & Irish Lions said, “Supporting the growth of the women’s game is a key strategic priority for The British & Irish Lions as it is for each of our Unions. Significant effort has gone into exploring the concept of a Lions Women’s Tour and great credit needs to go to the members of our steering committee, our board, and our staff. In particular, I want to recognise the collaboration of our four Unions and thank them for their continued support and the level of commitment they have shown throughout this journey.
"It is also significant that we are announcing two major commercial partnerships for the Lions Women’s Tour which is recognition of the huge potential of the Tour, the desire for large brands and organisations to be associated with it, as well as the growth of women’s rugby.
"Royal London has been an outstanding partner to The British & Irish Lions and a consistent advocate both for this Tour and for the women’s game. Their aim is to make a positive impact on women’s rugby and continue its growth and success story and we are honoured to have them on board."
Mark Robinson, NZ Rugby CEO commented, “When the opportunity arose with The British & Irish Lions to host the first Lions Women’s Tour, we jumped at the chance. We are very passionate about growing and elevating the women’s game in New Zealand, so to be chosen is a great honour for all New Zealand rugby fans. Further to that, this Tour offers New Zealand rugby the chance to build on the legacy created by hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup."
Royal London Ambassador and former England International Shaunagh Brown said, "The news is very exciting for women's rugby. Current players as well as young women and girls starting out in the sport can now dream of wearing that famous red jersey.
"This news is reflective of the upward trajectory Women’s Rugby is on and this Tour represents a great opportunity for the best players from Britain and Ireland to be part of the next exciting chapter of The Lion’s history."
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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