The British and Irish Lions are set to embark on their historic first women's tour to New Zealand, with three Tests scheduled across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The team will kick off their campaign with a warm-up match against the Black Ferns XV at Whangarei's Semenoff Stadium in September 2027.
The Lions' first Test will take place in Auckland's Go Media Stadium on September 11, marking a significant milestone for women's rugby. Although Eden Park, considered New Zealand's spiritual home and largest stadium, has been excluded from the tour, the venue's absence is understandable given its sold-out capacity during the women's Rugby World Cup final in 2022.
The Invitational XV fixture at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato on September 14 will be an intriguing match, with potential implications for future Lions tours. The presence of domestic Super Rugby Aupiki teams could lead to innovative team selections or even a Barbarians-style XVs lineup.
However, the tour dates have sparked concern among rugby fans and media. With most fixtures scheduled around men's international warm-up matches, attention will likely be diverted towards the upcoming men's World Cup in Australia. Nevertheless, the Lions' women's tour should carve out its own identity and feel, serving as a valuable case study for future women's tours.
New Zealand Rugby acting chief executive Steve Lancaster has emphasized the significance of this tour, stating that it promises to be "something truly special." British and Irish Lions chief executive Ben Calveley described the tour as a "hugely significant milestone" in promoting the women's game. The competitive balance of the series is also a concern, given New Zealand's recent struggles in major tournaments.
Despite these challenges, interest in the first Women's Lions head coach will likely be heightened, and fans are encouraged to start planning their attendance for this groundbreaking event.
The Lions' first Test will take place in Auckland's Go Media Stadium on September 11, marking a significant milestone for women's rugby. Although Eden Park, considered New Zealand's spiritual home and largest stadium, has been excluded from the tour, the venue's absence is understandable given its sold-out capacity during the women's Rugby World Cup final in 2022.
The Invitational XV fixture at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato on September 14 will be an intriguing match, with potential implications for future Lions tours. The presence of domestic Super Rugby Aupiki teams could lead to innovative team selections or even a Barbarians-style XVs lineup.
However, the tour dates have sparked concern among rugby fans and media. With most fixtures scheduled around men's international warm-up matches, attention will likely be diverted towards the upcoming men's World Cup in Australia. Nevertheless, the Lions' women's tour should carve out its own identity and feel, serving as a valuable case study for future women's tours.
New Zealand Rugby acting chief executive Steve Lancaster has emphasized the significance of this tour, stating that it promises to be "something truly special." British and Irish Lions chief executive Ben Calveley described the tour as a "hugely significant milestone" in promoting the women's game. The competitive balance of the series is also a concern, given New Zealand's recent struggles in major tournaments.
Despite these challenges, interest in the first Women's Lions head coach will likely be heightened, and fans are encouraged to start planning their attendance for this groundbreaking event.
the british and irish lions women's tour is gonna be insane!! i mean i know some ppl might think its just a sideshow to men's rugby but no way, this is a big deal! NZs struggling in major tournaments and we need more females leading the charge 
the fact that there r super rugby teams making it into the mix is gonna bring so much excitement to the game!! i gotta admit im getting a lil worried bout attention being diverted tho... like what if ppl dont care about the womens tour? 
but ben calveley and steve lansdown are all about makin this happen so fingers crossed!
. Having 3 Tests is a great start, but I hope they can make it more than just an afterthought in the men's World Cup schedule 
. I mean, let's be real, NZ women's team has been on fire lately 
! This tour should be all about showcasing the best of British & Irish Lions women 
.
. And can we talk about the Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei for that warm-up match? What a cool venue 
! Let's hope we get to see more women's rugby events with similar excitement and energy 
!
It's about time we see more women's rugby on the global stage 
#WomenInRugby #LionsOnTheMove. I mean, can you imagine the excitement at Eden Park? 
Unfortunately, it got axed due to sold-out capacity during the WRC final, but Go Media Stadium in Auckland will still be lit 
- it could lead to some innovative team selections and even a Barbarians-style XVs lineup 
#RugbyXV. But, I get why fans are worried about attention being diverted towards the men's World Cup in Australia 
#MenVsWomen.
and score some tickets for the matches 
!
also curious to see how they'll approach team selection with all those Super Rugby Aupiki teams coming into play 
still, i think it'll be awesome for the players and fans alike 
Let's focus on making this tour an epic success, not just for the ladies playing, but for the fans too! 
and dont even get me started on the men's world cup attention is gonna be EVERYWHERE 
how are they gonna carve out their own identity with all that going on? 
. It'll be awesome to see some of those Super Rugby Aupiki teams get involved in this tour - it could lead to some really exciting match-ups 
. But, fingers crossed that fans will tune in and support the women's game, because we need more female representation in sports! 
hopefully it'll draw in some attention away from the men's tournament and shine a spotlight on womens rugby 
️ its great to see nzr taking an active role in promoting the women's game too 
lets hope they can pull off some amazing wins and make this tour one for the books 
And Auckland's Go Media Stadium is gonna be sold out? That's just so extra 
The real question is, will the men's tour get all the attention again? It feels like they're just trying to milk the women's game for publicity 
. And don't even get me started on the scheduling... who needs to play around the men's World Cup?! 
Can't they just give the Lionesses some space? 
. I mean, can't they just make this tour special without relying on some manufactured hype? 
. I'm all for promoting women's rugby, but let's not get our hopes up too high just yet 
.
. I love how the British and Irish Lions are making an effort to promote equality in the game, it's all about fairness and inclusion 
. 
... A semi-diagram of the Semenoff Stadium at Whangarei could be so cool 
:
. The rivalry between the Black Ferns and the Invitational XV could get super intense 
by those british girls 
anyway gotta respect on the lions doin a women's tour tho. been thinkin maybe this is the push needed to make womens rugby more popular in uk? but then again, idk if aussies really care about womens world cup... 
at least its not just another excuse for men 2 play footy while girls have 2 watch 
It's a big deal, but you know what would make it even bigger? If they could get some of those Super Rugby Aupiki teams involved in the warm-up matches. Just imagine it – all these talented NZ players getting to run out alongside their international teammates... and who knows, maybe we'll even see some new faces for the Women's Lions. 
I'm stoked to see the British and Irish Lions taking on a women's tour in New Zealand! 
And who knows, maybe this tour will set a new standard for women's rugby competitions?