British and Irish Lions open 2025 tour v Western Force in Perth

The British & Irish Lions commence their 2025 tour with a highly anticipated match against the Western Force at Optus Stadium in Perth, featuring a squad heavily dominated by Irish players and led by captain Dan Sheehan. The Lions aim to rebound from a recent defeat to Argentina by fielding a strong, attacking side including Finn Russell and Tomos Williams in the backline, and a formidable pack with players like Tadhg Furlong and Josh van der Flier. The Western Force, captained by Wallabies scrum-half Nic White, will compete with a team including six current Australian internationals, despite missing several key players due to national duties and injury. Notably, the match marks a farewell for Western Force veterans Ollie Hoskins and Sam Carter. Lions head coach Andy Farrell plans to rotate the squad to manage player workload and maintain an expressive style of rugby that contrasts with more defensive tactics seen in previous tours. The fixture serves as a crucial warm-up before the Lions’ upcoming 1888 Cup clash with Argentina, with both teams eager to secure victory.