- Brisbane secures the first Test of the Wallabies v British and Irish Lions 2025 tour
- The Test is predicted to generate $55.55 million for Queensland’s visitor economy
- More than 30,000 spectators tipped to arrive from the northern hemisphere.
Queensland will add the coveted first Test of the British and Irish Lions’ three Test series to the State’s green and gold runway of major sporting events to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Suncorp Stadium will host the Wallabies v British and Irish Lions first Test on Saturday 19 July 2025.
Before the first Test, the Queensland Reds play the British and Irish Lions in a tour match on Wednesday 2 July 2025, also at Suncorp Stadium.
The Rugby Australia agreement will also secure extra Wallabies and Wallaroos content for Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Suncorp Stadium, with details to be confirmed later.
The British and Irish Lions Tour is one the biggest festivals of men’s fifteens rugby outside of the Rugby World Cup featuring the best players from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Queensland last hosted the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2013, which brought 52,499 rugby fans to Suncorp Stadium.
The first Test of the British and Irish Lions series and the visitors v Reds tour match have been locked in for Suncorp Stadium by the Queensland Government’s Tourism and Events Queensland in partnership with Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said:
“The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour is one of the biggest events on the global rugby calendar and its coming Suncorp Stadium, one of the world’s best rectangular stadiums.
“Securing the first Test for Queensland is a big win for sport and our visitor economy with up to $55.55 million generated for accommodation, hospitality and tourism operators and good jobs.
“The British and Irish Lions tour joins the men’s and hopefully women’s Rugby World Cups on Queensland’s green and gold runway of major international sport to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“It’s all part of consolidating Queensland’s place as Australia’s leading destination for sport.
“Our agreement with Rugby Australia for extra world-class rugby content in Townsville will also deliver an amazing opportunity for the Lions’ army of 30,000 international fans to discover North Queensland’s great lifestyle and iconic visitor experiences.”
Quotes attributable to Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh
“The British & Irish Lions Tour is one of the great sporting festivals – it is a real landmark of Australian and world sport. Rugby Australia is looking forward to welcoming back the Lions for the first time in 12 years – as well as the tens of thousands of Lions fans from the northern hemisphere.
“It is an exciting fixture of matches all around the country with the Lions taking on our Super Rugby franchises, three massive Test matches, and a marquee match in Adelaide featuring a combined invitational Australia-New Zealand side.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said:
“Australian rugby fans have waited 12 years for this series to return to home soil and with the first blockbuster match being hosted in Brisbane, they’re in for a treat.
“Brisbane’s local businesses are also set to score, with hotels, restaurants and tourism operators benefiting from the 30,000 fans expected to travel from the northern hemisphere, a key international market for the city.
“Securing not one but two coveted matches cements Brisbane’s growing reputation as Australia’s sporting capital in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
