Lions confirm First Nations, Pasifika match in Australia tour

The British and Irish Lions will play against a First Nations and Pasifika XV during their 2025 tour of Australia, with the match scheduled for July 22 in Melbourne. This addition fills a gap in the itinerary left by the Melbourne Rebels' administrative issues. Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh emphasized the match as a celebration of the contributions of Indigenous and Pacific communities to Australian rugby. The Lions will also face three Test matches against the Wallabies, with the tour kicking off against the Western Force on June 28. Ian Foster, the former All Blacks coach, will be part of the coaching staff for the AUNZ Invitational XV, which will compete against the Lions in Adelaide prior to the Test series. Anticipation for the tour is high, with 500,000 spectators expected across the nine games, including high-profile venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.