British and Irish Lions announce historic first-ever women’s tour

The British and Irish Lions will send a women’s team to New Zealand for a historic three-Test series in September 2027.

The inaugural women’s Lions tour will feature three clashes against the current world champions.

A Lions statement on Tuesday morning confirmed the tour will not overlap with that year’s men’s World Cup and will include warm-up fixtures, but said the full schedule had not yet been finalised. However, it is expected that five fixtures against provincial sides will form the build-up schedule.

British and Irish Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said: “Playing three Test matches against the current world champions, the Black Ferns, in New Zealand, in front of thousands of fans, represents the ultimate challenge and makes for a fantastic sporting spectacle.

“We look forward to working with all our stakeholders including New Zealand Rugby to finalise an exciting inaugural tour.”

Among the challenges facing the tour is England’s clear superiority over their rival home unions, a position enhanced by being the first side to adopt professionalism.

Since the Women’s Six Nations began in 2002, Ireland’s titles in 2013 and 2015 have been the only interruption to Anglo-French dominance.

The Lions’ expectation is that Ireland, Wales and Scotland will have made up some of the ground by 2027, given their own move to professionalism, while the touring environment will also see some players come to the fore.

Whatever happens between now and when the squad is chosen, Calveley is adamant that only deserving players will be taken to New Zealand.

“It’s really important to us that this is the best of the best. This has to be the best of the best. So merit-based selection, no quotas from the different countries,” Calveley said. “We are still three and a half years away, so who knows what the landscape will look like in 2027.

“We’re not going to get into discussions around selection, but we do know that each of the home unions is investing into the growth of their women’s programmes. We’ve got confidence in the work they’re doing.”

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Meanwhile, Mark Robinson, New Zealand Rugby CEO, said: “When the opportunity arose to be part of history and have the honour of hosting the inaugural British and Irish Lions Women’s tour, we knew we wanted to be part of it.

“Women’s rugby is growing at pace in New Zealand and following the success of the Rugby World Cup in 2022, we know the excitement world-class competition can generate.

“There will be anticipation around the country about the prospect of hosting the Lions and we look forward to announcing venues and match schedules in the future. The Lions and New Zealand have a long and storied history in the men’s game, and we cannot wait to help write a new chapter in the rivalry – this time between the Lions Women and the Black Ferns.”

Lions chair Ieuan Evans, the former Wales winger, said a women’s Tour is a “key development for women’s rugby”.

He said: “Having seen the superb job they did in hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2022, and the level of interest there was amongst the New Zealand public, I have no doubt they will be fantastic hosts and will really add to the overall spectacle,” he said.

Lions tours began in 1888 and take place every four years with the cream of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales taking on either New Zealand, Australia or South Africa. The men’s Lions travel to Australia next year.