Lions 2025

The tourists were supposed to play the Melbourne Rebels on 22 July, but the Super Rugby team have gone into administration since the fixtures were announced in July 2023.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he hoped to attract box-office names for the fixture.

"We have some great talent with First Nations heritage," he told the Sydney Morning Herald., external "So it was a matter of how do we will pull those ideas together to make a very special game in a massive tour?

"The preference will be to have Australian-eligible players of Pacific and First Nations backgrounds, and high-profile players to drive a high level of interest."

Veteran back Kurtley Beale, who played against the Lions in 2013 and is currently recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, Fijian-born Marika Koroibete, who missed out on Wallabies selection this autumn, and fellow wing Dylan Pietsch, whose artwork will feature on the Australia jersey during the tour,, external could all be contenders to play.

Waugh has also confirmed he is pursuing New Zealand internationals who are playing their club rugby abroad, and are therefore ineligible for All Black selection, for a trans-Tasman 'Anzac' team, combining both Australian and Kiwi players, who play the Lions on 12 July.

While Waugh did not specify names, Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell, who both started the 2023 Rugby World Cup final for New Zealand, are in Test exile as they ply their trade in Japan.

Scrum-half Aaron Smith, who retired from international rugby after the tournament, is also playing in the country’s Rugby League One.

"There are conversations beginning," Waugh said. "We certainly want to get some high-profile Kiwi players, and given France are in New Zealand then, the sensible place to test some conversations would be the New Zealand players who are offshore. We are starting to engage with some clubs and players."

The Englishman, currently coaching Ireland, succeeds Warren Gatland in the role, having served as his assistant for the 2013 and 2017 Lions series.

Farrell, 48, has led Ireland to a first series win in New Zealand and a Six Nations Grand Slam since taking charge in 2019.

Last month he signed a new Ireland contract that runs until 2027.

His role with the Lions will start in December 2024.

Farrell said it was an "honour and a privilege" and thanked the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) for allowing him to accept the "prestigious opportunity".

"There is a wealth of talent across Britain and Ireland, and I am looking forward to building a team that can deliver the ultimate goal of success in Australia," he said.

"The British and Irish Lions fan base is really special, uniting supporters from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and beyond.

"Mobilising that sea of red by creating a team that our fans can connect with and be proud of will be a key priority for me and will be crucial to our success."

Farrell will prepare the Lions for 10 games, including an opening Test against Argentina in Dublin and ending with a three-Test series against Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.