The British & Irish Lions will face the Wallabies on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in the First Test in the Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Series at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, kick-off at 11 am (UK time).
The Weston-super-Mare RFC bar and kitchen will be open from 10.15 am on Saturday, and members remember the 20% discount on drinks at the bar.
Don’t forget to watch out for a very distinctive flag in the hands of three Weston-super-Mare RFC's Past Players Association members in Brisbane.
It will be the first encounter between the two sides since July 2013 in Sydney, when the tourists won 41-16, earning a 2-1 series victory. The Lions will be looking to build on the eighteen wins in 23 games between the two sides.
Head coach Andy Farrell has named his team with Saracens and England captain Maro Itoje leading the side and is partnered at lock by Leinster Rugby and Ireland second row Joe McCarthy.
Bristol Bears and England’s Ellis Genge teams-up with Leinster and Ireland pair Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row. The backrow sees Leinster and Ireland’s Jack Conan at No.8, Munster Rugby and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne at blindside and Sale Sharks and England’s Tom Curry at openside.
Leinster and Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Bath Rugby and Scotland’s Finn Russell are named as the half-back pairing. The Glasgow Warriors and Scotland midfield partnership of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones line out in the centres.
The Leinster and Ireland duo of Hugo Keenan and James Lowe are joined in the backfield by Northampton Saints and England flyer Tommy Freeman.
Farrell, said: “We are entering the business end of the Tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date. We know how motivated the Wallaby team will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.
“It is a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday.
“We have seen a flood of Lions supporters on the streets of Brisbane this week and we are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red in the stands of the Suncorp Stadium cheering on the team.”
Canberra junior Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his Test debut against the Lions when he wears the number six jersey, completing a remarkable rise to the gold jersey, which included a stint in the French Top 14, before returning to Australian Rugby and the Western Force ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The flanker is one of a few changes to the team that beat Fiji in Newcastle, with fly-half Tom Lynagh named in the number 10 jersey, set to become the first player to follow in their father’s footsteps in playing against the Lions after his father Michael pulled on the same numbered gold jersey when the side toured in 1989.
The 22-year-old is joined by the experienced scrumhalf Jake Gordon, along with hooker Matt Faessler, who benefited from a hit-out against the Lions for the Queensland Reds in their Tour match two weeks ago.
Faessler is joined by tighthead Allan Alaalatoa and Test record holder James Slipper in the front row, with the latter joining fellow centurion George Smith as the only Wallabies to feature for Australia in back-to-back Lions Series in the professional era.
Lock partners Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will again start in the second row, with long-time club and state teammates Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson completing the loose forward trio alongside Champion de Crespigny.
The experienced Len Ikitau and 21-year-old Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will combine in the Wallabies midfield for the fifth time, while Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen will feature on the wings. Tom Wright has been named at fullback for the 14th time in the Wallabies’ last 15 Test matches.
Wallabies coach Joe Schimdt said: “The whole squad has worked hard as a group to prepare for what’s going to a massive challenge against an in-form Lions team.
“With the short runway leading up to such a big Test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly, from the performance we had against Fiji recently.
“We’re very much aware of the occasion and conscious of earning the support from the public through the effort they see on the field.”
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Daessler, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Grespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
British & Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje [capt], Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
