First Women’s Lions Tour Prepares for New Zealand Tests

The inaugural British and Irish Lions women’s rugby team is preparing for a landmark tour of New Zealand, featuring a three-Test series against the six-time world champion Black Ferns. The month-long tour represents a major milestone for international women’s rugby, uniting top players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales under a single banner for the first time.

Announced in 2024, the tour is intended to showcase elite international competition across both the North and South Islands. Lions chief executive Ben Calveley called the upcoming series “hugely significant” for the sport, while New Zealand Rugby described it as a “significant moment for rugby globally” as host venues prepare for the fixtures.

Tour Schedule and Venue Choices

The tour begins in the North Island city of Whangarei before moving to Auckland for the opening Test on 11 September at Go Media Stadium. The venue selection has drawn some disappointment from supporters because Auckland’s 50,000-seat Eden Park, which hosted the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, was passed over in favor of the 25,000-capacity stadium.

Following a mid-week fixture in Hamilton, the team travels south. The second Test takes place on 18 September at Sky Stadium in Wellington, followed by the final Test on 25 September at the newly built One NZ Stadium in Christchurch.

Squad Selection and Coaching Staff

Former England captain Jo Yapp has been named head coach for the tour. Yapp confirmed that selections will be based strictly on merit, stating there will be “no token selections” in building the squad. This policy is expected to result in a substantial representation of English players.

Discussions regarding Yapp’s supporting coaching staff are currently underway as a priority to avoid disruption to home nations teams ahead of the Women’s Six Nations. Unnamed sources report that potential candidates under consideration include Rachel Taylor, Sarah Hunter, Emily Scarratt, Giselle Mather, and Susie Appleby. The final player squad will be announced in May following the Six Nations, with England’s Meg Jones regarded as a primary candidate for team captain. A warm-up match in the UK is also planned prior to departure, though details have not yet been released.

Fan Engagement and Tour Logistics

Lions marketing estimates that more than 124,000 fans will attend tour matches in person. Official travel and ticket packages are currently available, ranging in price from £1,595 to £14,495, with general match tickets scheduled to go on sale at the end of the month.

However, questions remain regarding stadium attendance. Recent Black Ferns home matches have drawn crowds between 6,000 and 10,000 spectators, raising concerns about filling larger venues. In Christchurch, local engagement has been higher, with 11,793 fans attending a Super Rugby Aupiki match between Matatu and Chiefs Manawa in June.

New Zealand sports journalist Alice Soper noted that local public awareness of the tour remains low. Soper expressed concern that the tour risks “being lost in the noise” because it takes place just before the men’s Rugby World Cup in neighboring Australia, suggesting that traveling supporters from the home nations will be essential to generating atmosphere.

Background

The British and Irish Lions women’s tour was formally announced in 2024 to establish a regular elite tour structure for the women’s game. New Zealand’s Black Ferns are the most successful women’s national team in rugby history, having won six World Cup titles, including the most recent tournament hosted on home soil in 2022.