Lions’ Trip To Dublin Will Be Epic, Says Ieuan Evans

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 07: Captain Alun Wyn Jones of British & Irish Lions talks to his team following their defeat in the 3rd Test Match between South Africa and British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Lions’ Trip To Dublin Will Be Epic, Says Ieuan Evans

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By Paul Jones

The British and Irish Lions will be part of an “amazing occasion” when they play in Ireland for the first time in 2025, according to Ieuan Evans.

The Lions will take on Argentina in a June 2025 warm-up fixture ahead of their tour of Australia.

The match will see the two sides compete for the Lions 1888 Cup at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Friday 20 June, 2025.

The fixture follows the Lions beating Japan in an inaugural 1888 Cup contest in Edinburgh ahead of their 2021 tour of South Africa.

Former Wales captain and current Lions chairman Evans said: “This fixture is set to be an amazing occasion as well as an important part of our preparation ahead of the 2025 Tour, as we bid to claim our first Lions Series win since 2013.

“It’s hugely exciting for the players selected on the Tour to play a Lions fixture in Aviva Stadium and I’m sure it is something they will all relish.

“Aviva Stadium is one the most iconic venues in World Rugby and has been the scene of some of the greatest moments in rugby over the years.

“What’s more, Dublin is an amazing sporting city, and many rugby and sporting fans will have enjoyed the camaraderie and the warm welcome over the years.

“It is a wonderful destination for Lions fans and a brilliant setting for our pre-Tour fixture.”

Sky Sports will show the match live, along with all of the Lions fixtures on their tour of Australia, which begins with a warm-up game in on June 28 and ends with the third and final test on August 2.

“The opportunity to play in Dublin at Aviva Stadium in front of over 50,000 Lions fans will make for a great occasion and the perfect send-off,” Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said.

“British & Irish Lions Tours have a rich heritage built over 130 years of touring but alongside our strong history which we are very proud of, it is important that we look for ways in which to evolve our Tours.

“This pre-Tour fixture is one such example of this and builds on the success of the pre-Tour fixture against Japan at Murrayfield in 2021 which was a resounding success.

“British & Irish Lions fans are a core part of what makes a great Lions Tour. This fixture in Aviva Stadium gives fans who may not be travelling to Australia the opportunity to see the Lions in action which is really important to us.

“The 1888 Cup match in Dublin will give even more supporters the opportunity to be part of the Lions exciting journey and we look forward to witnessing a Sea of Red in Dublin before we depart for Australia.”

While the last of the Lions’ three tours of Argentina came in 1936, the last fixture between the sides ended in a 25-25 draw as they faced off in Cardiff in 2005.

British and Irish Lions 2025 tour schedule

Date Opponent Venue
Friday, June 20 Argentina Dublin
Saturday, June 28 Western Force Perth
Wednesday, July 2 Queensland Reds Brisbane
Saturday, July 5 NSW Warratahs Sydney
Wednesday, July 9 ACT Brumbies Canberra
Saturday, July 12 Invitational AU-NZ Adelaide
Saturday, July 19 AUSTRALIA (first Test) Brisbane
Wednesday, July 22 Melbourne Rebels Melbourne
Saturday, July 26 AUSTRALIA (second Test) Melbourne
Saturday, August 2 AUSTRALIA (third Test) Sydney

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