Key Highlights
- The British & Irish Lions women’s team will play a landmark warm-up clash in Cardiff before departing for their inaugural five-match tour of New Zealand.
- The squad, managed by Joanne Yapp, will face France in only the second meeting between the Lions and French opposition, following a 1989 men’s friendly in Paris.
- The tour includes three major Tests against New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, aiming to establish a lasting legacy for the female game.
Historic Send-Off Planned at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
The newly formed British & Irish Lions women’s team will stage a significant send-off fixture in Cardiff prior to their historic five-match tour of New Zealand. While the men’s Lions tours have unified players representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland since 1888, the women’s team is preparing to embark on its maiden tour, aiming to captivate fans in the Welsh capital ahead of their international journey.
The squad, managed by head coach Joanne Yapp, aims to draw on strong local backing at the Principality Stadium. The venue previously proved its appetite for top-tier women’s rugby when a crowd of 21,186 set a record for a Wales women’s home game in any sport during their 2025 Six Nations meeting against England. Organizers are now eyeing a similarly vibrant atmosphere to propel the combined home nations squad toward the Southern Hemisphere.
It will be a tremendous rugby match and occasion,
said Carol Isherwood, chair of the Lions women’s committee. It’s a chance to grow the game and leave a legacy so that we are able to continue with the Lions team by setting the foundations and give everybody the chance to see the women’s game at its very best.
Welsh Rugby Union Backing and French Opposition
The preparatory fixture in Cardiff will pit the Lions against France, marking only the second occasion that any British & Irish Lions side has taken on French opposition. The singular previous occurrence came in 1989, when the men’s Lions team claimed victory in a friendly encounter in Paris.
Isherwood, who captained Great Britain in 1986, underlined that multiple host locations had been considered before the Welsh Rugby Union presented an enticing case to stage the historic event under the roof in Cardiff. I’ve been there for some England men’s games and the noise is fabulous. It’ll be great if it is a sea of red for the Lions and not just Wales,
Isherwood explained.
We’ve got a fantastic tour in line, and we’re starting off with a brilliant occasion in Cardiff.
We looked at some different options and going abroad, like the men have previously, but the Welsh Rugby Union said that they felt they could do a great job here,
she added. We have the fantastic stadium, the support for rugby, tradition of the women’s game having some important moments in Wales and the fact that we can get thousands under that roof to see the Lions women play.
Why This Matters
The launch of the women’s Lions tour represents a transformative milestone in world rugby, expanding a concept that has existed on the men’s side for well over a century. By arranging a high-profile home fixture against a Tier-1 side like France, organizers are deliberately creating a platform to drive commercial growth and inspire younger generations across the home nations.
As Isherwood noted, the impact goes well beyond a single match: The visibility allows girls across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to dream of pulling on that red shirt one day.
Following the Cardiff showcase, the tour will shift its focus entirely to New Zealand, where the team will compete in five matches, highlighted by marquee Test matches staged in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the Lions women play their Test matches in New Zealand?
The inaugural five-match tour across New Zealand will feature Test matches held in three major cities: Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
Have the British & Irish Lions ever played France before?
Yes, though it is exceptionally rare. Prior to this women’s match, the only meeting between a Lions side and France occurred in 1989, when the men’s team won an exhibition friendly in Paris.
Why was Cardiff selected as the venue for the send-off match?
Organizers explored various domestic and international options, but the Welsh Rugby Union successfully pitched Cardiff’s proven capacity for record-breaking women’s rugby crowds, its iconic roofed venue, and the rich tradition of the sport in Wales.
