CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — The first ever rugby tour by the British & Irish Lions Women's team will be preceded by a warmup match on home soil against France.
The game will take place in Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Aug. 27, ahead of the Lions squad making its historic trip to New Zealand for a three-test series.
There has been a men’s British and Irish Lions team since 1888, taking the best players from the national sides of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for tours to New Zealand, South Africa or Australia every four years, on a rotation basis. The men's team has played “home” warmup games in 2005, 2021 and 2025.
“For our British & Irish Lions Women’s team to step onto the field for the first time, on home soil and in front of our fans, is going to be incredibly special,” said Lions head coach Jo Yapp.
The tour of New Zealand begins on Sept. 4 with a match against a Black Ferns XV in Whangārei. The first test against New Zealand will be in Auckland on Sept. 11.
There will be a midweek game against an Invitational XV in Hamilton on Sept. 14 before the final two tests, in Wellington and Christchurch.
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