British & Irish Lions

British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team comprising players representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. In this article, we will discuss its history, achievements, and coaching staff.

History of the British & Irish Lions

The first unofficial tour involving the Lions rugby team dates back to 1888. That was when a team of Great Britain's best rugby players went on tour to Australia and New Zealand. The team included players from England, Scotland and Wales.

The team's official history began in 1910, when the first tour was held under the auspices of the newly formed International Rugby Board (now known as World Rugby). In 1924, the team took to the field for the first time under the name ‘British Lions’ as part of a tour of South Africa.

The name ‘British & Irish Lions’ has existed since 2001, when the team toured Australia. The team's logo features symbols from all countries: the English rose, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock and the Welsh feathers.

The colours of the team's kit symbolise several countries: the red jerseys honour Wales, the snow-white shorts represent England, and the blue and green socks are reminiscent of Scotland and Ireland.

Since 1989, B&I has toured three countries in the Southern Hemisphere every four years: Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. In addition to test matches with national teams, the Lions also play local clubs and regional teams. The outcome of the tour is determined by the results of three test matches with the main national team.

Achievements of the national team

Lions rugby won the 1971 tour — the team defeated New Zealand on its home turf for the first time. In 1974, the Lions won a series of victories over the South African national team, cementing their status as one of the best teams in the world. The biggest victory in the team's history was against Western Australia with a score of 10:116 on 8 June 2001. The most significant victory in a test match was a 46–0 win over Argentina in 1927.

The British & Irish Lions is one of the most successful and historic teams in rugby, with a wealth of experience in international tours. The Lions have won test series in South Africa, Australia and other countries, completed the legendary ‘Invincibles’ tour in 1974, and continue to be a major force in world rugby.

Coach

The team's head coach is Andy Farrell. He was officially appointed to the position in January 2024. Before taking charge of the team, Farrell worked as the Lions' defence coach on the 2013 and 2017 tours. Prior to that, he was head coach of the Irish national team, with whom he achieved considerable success, including Six Nations victories and high rankings in the World Rugby rankings.

Andy Farrell replaced the legendary Warren Gatland, who led the Lions on three previous tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Team composition

Most often, the Lions include players who have already played for their national team, but the team has the right to select rugby players representing any of the four countries. The captain of the Lions rugby team in 2025 is England's Maro Itoje. The rugby player plays for Saracens. He became the first black captain in the history of the British Lions and the first English captain since 2001.

Among the best players on the team are:

1. Maro Itoje — forward, team leader, whose strength lies in his leadership on the field.
2. Tadhg Furlong — one of the most experienced players on the Lions rugby club. He plays forward and excels in physical confrontations.
3. Ellis Genge is a powerful and aggressive forward who sets the tone for the game on the front line.
4. James Ryan is one of the best British Lions rugby players. The forward excels at rebounding.
5. Henry Pollock is a young talent who stands out for his energy and dynamic play.
6. Finn Russell is a ‘back’ player capable of changing the course of the game.
7. Marcus Smith is an excellent tactician who initiates successful attacks.
8. Tommy Freeman is a fast and effective winger.
9. Garry Ringrose is a player who demonstrates excellent ball control.
10. Hugo Keenan and James Lowe are stable back three players with international experience.

The decision on who will take the field in a particular match is made by the coaching staff. All the players on the team are quite experienced and demonstrate coordinated play, winning more often than they lose.

Stadium

The Lions rugby team does not have a home stadium, but they play farewell or preparatory matches at such famous arenas as Twickenham, Principality Stadium, Aviva Stadium, and Murrayfield. These are large stadiums with modern infrastructure.

Twickenham Stadium is the world's largest stadium designed for rugby, with a capacity of around 82,000. It is known as the ‘home of English rugby’ and hosts England national team matches and major international tournaments, including British & Irish Lions games.

Principality Stadium is an arena in Cardiff, Wales, with a capacity of 74,500 spectators. It hosts the home matches of the Wales national rugby union team. The stadium also hosts international matches, club tournaments and concerts. Previously known as the Millennium Stadium, it was renamed in 2016.

Aviva Stadium is a stadium in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity of 51,700 spectators. It is the home arena of Ireland's national rugby and football teams. The arena opened in 2010 on the site of the old Lansdowne Road Stadium.

Murrayfield is a stadium in Edinburgh,

Scotland, with a capacity of 67,000 spectators. It is the home arena of the Scottish national rugby team. It is the largest stadium in the country.

Season statistics

In the 2025 season, the British and Irish Lions played 9 matches, with 7 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws. In the test series against Australia (Wallabies), the Lions won the series 2–1, their first test series victory since 2013. The third test was lost due to severe weather conditions, but the Lions still won the series.

British & Irish Lions Store

The British & Irish Lions have an official store selling team clothing and merchandise. Many items are available at discounted prices. Rugby fans can purchase training wear and rugby jerseys. All items feature the official British & Irish Lions crest. The online store catalogue includes:

• T-shirts;
• sweatshirts;
• scarves;
• accessories;
• gifts for men, women and children.

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