The British & Irish Lions first tour was in 1888 to Australia and New Zealand. Since then they have settled into a 12 year cycle going to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in turn.

 

They last came to Australia in 2013, beating Australia 2 tests to 1, winning the deciding third test with a runaway score in the second half. The previous tour in 2001 was won by Australia 2 tests to 1. Justin Harrison came in for the injured David Giffin and famously disrupted a Lions lineout near the Wallabies line to prevent them scoring. Australia won the decider 29-23 under the captaincy of the great John Eales.

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The 2023 Lions tour commences in earnest on 28th June when the Lions play the Western force. The first run out for the Lions has already occurred with the Lions playing Argentina to a sell out crowd in Dublin. Unfortunately for that crowd, Argentina proved too much for the Lions and ran out winners by 4 points. We shouldn't read too much into this loss by the Lions - they typically struggle to gel together at first. This is a team drawn from the best players in 4 high profile national teams. It can take some time to turn a team of these champions into a championship team.

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For more detail, read this excellent article in the Sydney Morning Herald:

"Why the Lions tour is rugby’s greatest spectacle – and it’s finally returning to Australia"

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The full schedule is below.

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