3 h. ago Lions v Western Force live: Result and reaction as impressive tourists run rampant in Perth

Western Force 7-54 Lions: A much-improved performance saw the Lions bounce back from defeat to Argentina to rout Australia’s weakest Super Rugby side

Society

11 h. ago How to watch Western Force vs British and Irish Lions: TV channel and live stream today

Andy Farrell’s side meet Super Rugby opponents in Australia tour opener

Politics

19 h. ago Expect Farrell’s frustrations to vanish: the Lions will prioritise hunger and energy | Ugo Monye

The tour starts when boots are on the ground in Australia and a line can be drawn under last week’s defeat against Argentina The British & Irish Lions’ defeat by Argentina will have been shaken out of their system even before the jet lag. It is not difficult to draw a line under it. The tour starts when boots are on the ground in Australia and listening to the noises coming out of the camp, I’d be amazed if Andy Farrell is voicing the same frustrations after Saturday’s match against Western Force.The handling errors against the Pumas stood out. I don’t mind so much those that were committed in aerial contests – though there were a lot in open play as well – but I think what really frustrated Farrell is that Argentina appeared to be playing with more urgency at the breakdown and when it came to feeding off the loose scraps. Continue reading...

Science

28 h. ago Return of the Mack: Hansen ‘living the dream’ on Lions trip back to Australia

Lions winger born in Canberra and with a tattoo of Andy Farrell has ‘no regrets’ about his decision to play for IrelandMack Hansen says he feels like is living in “an alternate universe” on the eve of his first start for the British & Irish Lions in his native Australia. The winger, qualified for Ireland through his Cork-born mother, was a youngster in the crowd when the Lions last toured Australia 12 years ago and cannot wait to line up against one of his old housemates this weekend.The 27-year-old represented his homeland at under-20 level but says relocating to Europe was “the best decision I ever made”. Nevertheless he has been pinching himself ever since flying in as a member of the 2025 Lions squad. “It feels like I’m properly living the dream,” admitted Hansen before Saturday morning’s fixture against Western Force, for whom his former Brumbies colleague and good friend Bayley Kuenzle now plays. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Dan Sheehan wants ‘passion’ from British and Irish Lions teammates

The Lions captain wants his team to show the same intensity as their opponents, Western Force, in Saturday’s tour opener

Politics

31 h. ago Australia rugby legend carpets British & Irish Lions and gives them a new nickname

The outspoken rugby great has hit out at Andy Farrell's side with a withering attack

Politics

31 h. ago British and Irish Lions urged to ‘create moments’ ahead of Australia tour opener

Western Force await in Perth on Saturday.

Politics

3 d. ago Rugby star George North says 'Australia's epic' as he returns Down Under

George North has returned to Australia just in time for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour which starts this Friday.

Politics

3 d. ago Lions rugby star returns to Australia in time for 2025 tournament

British & Irish Lions sports star has returned Down Under to kick off the upcoming 2025 tournament.

Politics

3 d. ago Spear and loathing: 20 years since tackle on Brian O’Driscoll that changed rugby

Mealamu and Umaga’s slam-dunking of the Lions captain was typical of the game’s wild west years but it proved a watershed – and the hurt still lingersBrian O’Driscoll is sick of talking about it. Tana Umaga says anyone still asking needs to put it behind them. But here we are, 20 years to the day since the tackle that ties them together – and people do still want to talk about it.That moment – in the first minute of the first Test of the Lions series against New Zealand – still pops up on TikTok and YouTube feeds, still sparks arguments on Reddit threads, still leads hour-long podcasts when players reminisce about how they saw it. And it still inspires articles like this one, long after the men involved have made up and moved on. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Australia issues robust Lions response as demand to release star players for tour games rejected

Joe Schmidt hits back over claims he is contractually obliged to release players

Sport

4 d. ago Joe Schmidt hits back at British and Irish Lions over demands to release Australia stars for tour games

Wallabies coach standing his ground after Lions CEO Ben Calveley warning as war of words escalates before first tour match

Events

4 d. ago The Breakdown | Next Gen Wallabies sense Farrell’s Lions are there for the taking

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has lifted team from lowest ebb and made a country feel it can win againAustralian rugby liked what it saw – and didn’t see – last week, as the British & Irish Lions got their 2025 tour off to a losing start against Argentina. Sure, it was the opening game of a 10-match odyssey and Andy Farrell’s men were lacking cohesion after only two weeks in camp. But for a young Wallabies side rising fast under their head coach, Joe Schmidt, it put blood in the water and proved the tourists are very beatable.Schmidt’s 6-7 record in his first season in charge of the Wallabies might not cost Lions fans much sleep but Farrell, his former second‑in‑command at Ireland, will sniff the seeds of ambush. In their last start in November, the Wallabies led Ireland 13-5 only to lose 22-19. Schmidt won’t let that happen again. The 2025 Wallabies these Lions face are light years from the lambs Eddie Jones led to slaughter at the 2023 World Cup in France. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Joe Schmidt rejects Lions demands to release Australia stars for tour games

Wallabies coach says agreement is not to release all playersSchmidt highlights clash between Waratahs and Fiji gamesThe Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has hit back at the British and Irish Lions management, insisting Australia are adhering to the tour agreement regarding the release of international players for pre-Test games and that his front-line home players were only unavailable because they were preparing to face Fiji on Sunday week.The issue has flared up again this week after the Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, said he expected Schmidt to release Wallaby players back to their Super Rugby franchises for their respective games against the touring team. Some fringe Wallabies are due to feature for Western Force this Saturday but it is set to be a different story for the subsequent games against the Reds, the Waratahs and the Brumbies. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt rejects Lions’ demands as player release row rumbles on

The Lions have demanded that the Australia coach release more of his squad to feature in the tour games ahead of the three-Test series

Economics

4 d. ago Finn Russell identified as Lions’ ‘danger man’ ahead of clash with Western Force

Kurtley Beale sees Ikitau and Suaali as keys to Wallabies’ hopesAustralia back says he learned from infamous slip in 2013 seriesFormer Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has singled out Finn Russell as the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of victory against the visiting British & Irish Lions. Beale, a leading figure in the 2013 Lions series, has also warned his compatriots to brace themselves for a “juggernaut” of a rugby experience when the tour kicks off this Saturday.Beale’s infamous slip as he went to kick a potential match-clinching penalty in the first Test in Brisbane had a key bearing on the outcome 12 years ago. But the 36-year-old now believes Russell holds the key to the forthcoming series. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Kurtley Beale picks out Lions’ ‘danger man’ Russell as biggest threat to Australia

Former Wallaby sees Ikitau and Suaali as hosts’ keysAustralia back says he learned from slip in 2013 seriesThe former Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has singled out Finn Russell as the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of victory against the visiting British & Irish Lions. Beale, a leading figure in the 2013 Lions series, has also warned his compatriots to brace themselves for a “juggernaut” of a rugby experience when the tour kicks off this Saturday.Beale’s infamous slip as he went to kick a potential match-clinching penalty in the first Test in Brisbane had a key bearing on the outcome 12 years ago. But the 36-year-old now believes Russell holds the key to the forthcoming series. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Beale picks out Lions’ ‘danger man’ Russell as biggest threat to Australia

Former Wallaby sees Ikitau and Suaali as hosts’ keysAustralia back says he learned from slip in 2013 seriesThe former Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has singled out Finn Russell as the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of victory against the visiting British & Irish Lions. Beale, a leading figure in the 2013 Lions series, has also warned his compatriots to brace themselves for a “juggernaut” of a rugby experience when the tour kicks off this Saturday.Beale’s infamous slip as he went to kick a potential match-clinching penalty in the first Test in Brisbane had a key bearing on the outcome 12 years ago. And the 36-year-old now believes Russell holds the key to the forthcoming series. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Ollie Chessum warns Lions against complacency on Australia tour

Andy Farrell’s men face Western Force in Perth on Saturday in the first fixture Down Under.

Events

5 d. ago Lions warn Joe Schmidt over Wallabies player release for tour matches

Ben Calveley expects competitive Force side to face LionsTour could open up to other countries such as FranceEvery big tour is a hectic learning curve as the 2025 British & Irish Lions are already finding. The squad had to call off their post-arrival recovery dip in the Pacific Ocean – a letdown both for local news crews and the lurking sharks off Cottesloe beach – because of inclement weather and the first media squall of the trip has also blown in.The Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, has made clear the touring side expect the Wallabies head coach, Joe Schmidt, to make his national players available for their Super Rugby teams before the Test series commencing next month and the host nation has been gently reminded of that contractual detail following the Lions’ arrival in Australia. Continue reading...

Events