The public will get their first chance to purchase tickets to next year’s highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour, when the first release goes on sale today.
The limited release of tickets will be available for purchase from 2:00pm AEDT / 1:30pm ACDT / 1:00pm AEST / 11:00am AWST today until the allocation is exhausted for the once in every 12 years event.
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With unprecedented demand for tickets during presale windows for Wallabies First and Super Rugby club members, the first release of General Public on-sale isn’t expected to last long.
The largest and most prestigious Rugby Tour in the world, the Lions will play nine matches over six weeks, with an anticipated 40,000 international visitors to visit Australian shores, delivering strong economic outcomes for all the participating cities, states, and territories.
The Lions Tour will be the first of the major Rugby events to visit Australia as part of the sport’s ‘golden decade’, with the tour to be followed by the 2027 Rugby World Cup for men, the 2029 Rugby World Cup for women, and Rugby Sevens at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, all hosted in Australia.
The Lions play nine matches in total throughout their tour of Australia, with three Tests against the Wallabies, and six Tour games around the country – including a match against a combined team of players from Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host the first Test between the Wallabies and the Lions on July 19, before the two sides travel to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground for the second Test on July 26. The third, and potential deciding Test will be held at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on August 2.
Ahead of the Test series, the Tour will kick off in Perth on June 28, with the Western Force hosting Andy Farrell’s men at Optus Stadium before the squad will cross the country to the east coast to take on the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on July 2.
The tourists will then head south for matches against the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on July 5 and the ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium in Canberra on July 9.
The famous Adelaide Oval will host the final Tour match on July 12, which will see the Lions play an invitational side comprised of players from Australia and New Zealand – the first of its kind since 1989.
The Lions are also scheduled to take on the Melbourne Rebels at Marvel Stadium in a midweek match on July 22.
The British & Irish Lions combine the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, touring either Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa on rotation every four years, meaning the Lions only visit Australia every 12 years.
Australia shares a long history with the Lions, with their first-ever Rugby Test match taking place against a British Isles team at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1899 on the Lions’ first tour to Australia – the home side won its first match, but lost the Series to the visitors.
The Lions last toured down under in 2013, with the tourists winning the Test Series 2-1, while the ACT Brumbies claimed a famous victory in the nation’s capital.
Twelve years earlier, the Wallabies scored a famous, come-from-behind 2-1 Series win with a dramatic 29-23 triumph in the decider in Sydney.
Rugby Australia CEO, Phil Waugh:
“We’re thrilled to have the first release of tickets on sale to the public for what is going to be an incredible six weeks with the Lions on Australian soil. We’ve seen huge demand across the pre-sale windows for Wallabies First and Super Rugby club members and I’m sure this first allocation for the General Public will be no different. I would urge all Rugby fans, and major event-goers to get in quick to make sure they don’t miss out. The Lions tour is one of the great sporting events in Australia and we look forward to welcoming them and their huge number of travelling supporters next year.”
Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt:
“There’s truly nothing quite like a British and Irish Lions Tour – they’re a special event and something Rugby supporters around the world get excited by. As a team, we have a great runway with our Test schedule this year to make sure we show strong signs of progress so we are as well prepared as we possibly can be for what will be an impressive and experienced Lions squad that lands in Australia in July next year.”
Wallabies captain in the victorious 2001 British and Irish Lions Tour, John Eales:
“I’ve been fortunate to experience a Lions Tour as a player in 2001 and as a fan in 1989 and 2013, and there’s no denying it’s a unique opportunity. There’s enormous interest already and that’s only going to continue to increase as we get closer to July next year – outside of a Rugby World Cup, it doesn’t get bigger than this.”
Queensland Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Healy:
“Hosting the British and Irish Lions Tour at Suncorp Stadium is fantastic for Queensland. We’re expecting 30,000 international fans will travel to our state for this momentous tour and that we’ll welcome 38,000 visitors overall, injecting a hopping $55.5 million into the local visitor economy. This will be the hottest ticket in town with Rugby fans keen to book their place to witness history, as we welcome the British and Irish Lions to Brisbane next year.”
Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO, Anthony Ryan:
“In July 2025, Suncorp Stadium will host the long-awaited Lions Tour over two coveted nights of unmissable international sporting action. The expected influx of fans travelling from the northern hemisphere will provide a significant boost to the local economy, as visitors fill our hotels, enjoy our world-class restaurants and lifestyle precincts, and explore our unique tourism experiences. Brisbane is a city that loves sport, and we will open our arms to our British and Irish visitors. We know that they will embrace all the action on and off the field as
they enjoy everything our beautiful region has to offer.”
Victoria Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos:
“Melbourne’s strong track record for hosting global sporting events makes our city the perfect location for a sporting contest of this magnitude. We’re looking forward to welcoming
the British & Irish Lions squad next year, alongside the tens of thousands of diehard fans from all over the world that join them in experiencing our world-class city. Whether you’re a Wallabies tragic or part of the Lions faithful alike, make sure you get in early to secure your tickets to what is shaping up to be one of the biggest rugby union contests of 2025.”
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham:
“This is a significant game for Sydney, coming 125 years after a pre-federation national team first played the Lions, at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1899. The friendly rivalry between our countries will make for a series of spirited games next year. It will be fantastic to see a packed Accor Stadium decked out in gold cheering the Wallabies onto another famous victory.”
South Australia Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison:
“Another world-class sporting event at Adelaide Oval, and today is the chance for the public to get their tickets. This is the most prestigious Rugby Tour in the world, and it is expected to draw a capacity crowd, boosting visitors to our state and providing a significant economic boost. We look forward to welcoming the Lions and the thousands of fans who will travel here from the northern hemisphere and from interstate. They’ll be able to enjoy a historic sporting spectacle and enjoy all that South Australia has to offer.”
Western Australia Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, Rita Saffioti:
“Our government is very excited to host the inaugural match of this prestigious 124-year-old touring tradition, slated to attract tens of thousands of fans to our award-winning Optus Stadium in 2025. The British & Irish Lions rugby match presents yet another compelling
reason for visitors to choose Western Australia as their next travel destination. This tour match not only strengthens our ties with the UK, a crucial visitor market for WA, but also underscores our commitment to fostering this important relationship.”
ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation, Yvette Berry:
“It’s great to see tickets are now on sale for the British and Irish Lions Tour, which will see the ACT Brumbies play the Lions in Canberra on 9 July 2025 at GIO Stadium. Canberrans deserve to have international sporting matches played in our city. Canberra is a great place to visit and host international sporting events, today’s announcement demonstrates that, and I welcome the Lions to our city.”
The 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia
Saturday 28 June: Lions vs Western Force, Optus Stadium, Perth
Wednesday 2 July: Lions vs Queensland Reds, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday 5 July: Lions vs New South Wales Waratahs, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wednesday 9 July: Lions vs ACT Brumbies, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Saturday 12 July: Lions vs Invitational AU & NZ XV, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Saturday 19 July: Lions v Wallabies (First Test), Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Tuesday 22 July: Lions v Melbourne Rebels, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Saturday 26 July: Lions v Wallabies (Second Test), Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Saturday 2 August: Lions v Wallabies (Third Test), Accor Stadium, Sydney
