British Irish Lions Begin Australia Tour Against Western Force in Perth

The British and Irish Lions, coached by Andy Farrell, continue their 2025 tour in Australia with a match against the Western Force in Perth following a narrow 24-28 defeat to Argentina in Dublin. The Lions have made several squad changes ahead of this game to better integrate their players, while controversy surrounds Western Force's selection, with accusations that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt breached tour agreements by not releasing some Australian stars. The Western Force had a challenging Super Rugby Pacific season, finishing ninth, whereas the Lions aim to replicate their 2013 dominant victory over the Force. Fans in the U.K. can watch the match live on BBC One and stream via BBC iPlayer, while U.S. viewers have free access through World Rugby’s RugbyPass TV, with additional options available via VPN. The Lions kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. BST at Optus Stadium in Perth. Separate from rugby union, the National Rugby League features Round 17 matches with the St. George Illawarra Dragons facing the Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos hosting the New Zealand Warriors, both available on Fox League and streaming platforms.