The itinerary for the nine-match tour in 2025 was announced last week. It will be self-contained with no stop-off en route by the tourists to visit one of the South Seas islands, or a start in Hong Kong as they did before their last trip to Australia in 2013.
That tour was hugely significant for the Lions whose future was coming under threat following the unsuccessful and undignified visit to Australia in 2001, the humbling in New Zealand four years later and a third straight series loss in South Africa in 2009.
The series was 1-1 going into the decider in Sydney. Head coach Warren Gatland sent the Emerald Isle into uproar when he dropped Brian O’Driscoll, vindicated when the Lions roared home 41-16 with the Ireland centre’s replacement, Jamie Roberts, scoring the last of their four tries.
It was Gatland’s first tour as head coach having been in charge of the forwards in 2009. He led the Lions to New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa two years ago, but Ireland's Andy Farrell is the favourite to be appointed for Australia.
The Lions will start, as usual, in Perth where they will face Western Force at the end of June. Unlike previous trips, they will be at full strength because the Premiership clubs have brought forward the date of their play-off final to ensure all the squad will take a full part in training before departure.
The Reds and Waratahs follow in Brisbane and Sydney respectively before the relatively short trip to face the Brumbies in Canberra.The final Saturday match before the Test series is against an invitational Australian and New Zealand XV - shades of the Anzac match at the end of the 1989 tour - at Adelaide Oval, a venue not often used for rugby but which staged two matches in the 2003 World Cup.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 23, 2023-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 23, 2023-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.