The Argentinian rugby team is set to visit Dublin in 2025 for a warm-up fixture against the British & Irish Lions. The Lions' 1888 Cup game will take place at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, June 20.
This game will mark the Lions' first-ever appearance in Ireland. The last match between the two sides occurred on home soil in 2005 in Cardiff, with that fixture ending in a 25-25 draw.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and will also be available on terrestrial television; further details will be announced at a later date.
Ben Calveley, CEO of The British & Irish Lions, commented, “Excitement is building as we continue the countdown to the 2025 Tour to Australia, and we are delighted to confirm details of this fixture, which is a key part of the overall Tour. The opportunity to play in Dublin at Aviva Stadium in front of over 50,000 Lions fans will make for a great occasion and the perfect send-off.
“British & Irish Lions Tours have a rich heritage built over 130 years of touring, but alongside our strong history, which we are very proud of, it is important that we look for ways in which to evolve our Tours. This pre-Tour fixture is one such example of this and builds on the success of the pre-Tour fixture against Japan at Murrayfield in 2021, which was a resounding success.”
The Lions are coming to Dublin! 🦁🇦🇷
We will face Argentina at Dublin's @AVIVAStadium on Friday, 20 June 2025 before our Tour of Australia 🙌
For more details including how to guarantee yourself tickets, visit our website ➡️ https://t.co/XtGXnDtVdO#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/nZmLcKMiEb
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) December 7, 2023
The Lions' schedule includes matches against teams such as the Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, the Brumbies, an invitational Australia and New Zealand selection, and the Melbourne Rebels. Additionally, they will face the Wallabies in three Test fixtures to be held in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The Lions' last tour to Australia was in 2013, culminating in a 41-16 victory in the Third Test and securing a 2-1 series win.
IRFU Chief Executive Kevin Potts added, “The British & Irish Lions is synonymous with rugby heritage, pride, and passion, and I am delighted that Irish fans will have an opportunity to watch one of rugby’s most popular and iconic teams play for the very first time in Ireland. The IRFU is very proud to host this ‘Home’ fixture prior to the 2025 Tour, and it promises to be a momentous celebration for Irish rugby in our 150th Anniversary season."
Tickets for the fixture will be available from €40 and will be released in March 2024. Tickets will be allocated via various channels including IRFU, Ticketmaster.ie and the Lions Rugby Club. To find out more sign up at lionsrugby.com/jointhepride
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