Australia will urge British & Irish Lions to face one of the Pacific Island nations during 2025 tour after depleted club sides were swept aside on tour of South Africa
- British and Irish Lions will visit Australia on their next tour in four years’ time
- Australia want to add another international fixture to their warm-up schedule
- Warren Gatland’s men made light work of their midweek clashes in South Africa
Australia want the British & Irish Lions to play a Pacific Island nation during their 2025 tour to beef up the midweek schedule.
After the blow-out results on the South African trip, there is a desire to include Fiji, Samoa or Tonga in the fixture list in four years’ time.
‘We are very open to that,’ said Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan.
Australia want the British & Irish Lions to play a Pacific Island nation during their 2025 tour
‘I think that is part of the broader conversation we will have with World Rugby to say “there are tent pole events coming to Australia we can use to promote the game on the islands”.’
The Australians are bidding for the 2027 World Cup, with a decision due in May, and think they would be better hosts than rivals USA.
‘We’re known as a rugby nation,’ said McLennan.
‘In the US rugby is a relatively immature sport. You saw the score for the US team against the All Blacks (104-14). I think they need time to invest in their team and build their stocks up.’
The British and Irish Lions comfortably won each of their midweek clashes in South Africa
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