**British and Irish Lions Tour 2025: Morning Start Times Confirmed, TV Details Announced**
The much-anticipated 2025 British and Irish Lions tour is now on the horizon, captivating rugby fans across the UK as broadcast times and TV schedules have been officially revealed. This year’s tour is set for an array of early starts for UK viewers, with every clash on Australian soil kicking off at 11:00 BST — a schedule sure to become something of a Saturday morning ritual for devoted supporters.
The tour swings into action on Friday, 20 June, as Andy Farrell’s side host Argentina at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, with action beginning at the notably later time of 20:00 BST. This opener not only serves as a curtain raiser but also as a springboard for the Lions before they make a swift transition to the southern hemisphere to face Australia’s top teams and, ultimately, the Wallabies themselves in a three-Test showdown.
For fans eager to catch every moment, Sky Sports will provide exclusive live coverage from start to finish. Complementing this, S4C will air comprehensive highlights packages each evening of matchdays, ensuring coverage fits around the daily routines of fans unable to catch the games live. S4C will also show the Lions-Argentina test live, broadening access further for Welsh viewers and those preferring free-to-air television.
Below is the revised fixture list for the tour:
– **Friday, 20 June:** Lions v Argentina (Dublin, Aviva Stadium)
– **Saturday, 28 June:** Lions v Western Force (Perth, Optus Stadium)
– **Wednesday, 2 July:** Lions v Queensland Reds (Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium)
– **Saturday, 5 July:** Lions v NSW Waratahs (Sydney, Allianz Stadium)
– **Wednesday, 9 July:** Lions v ACT Brumbies (Canberra, GIO Stadium)
– **Saturday, 12 July:** Lions v Invitational AU & NZ (Adelaide, Adelaide Oval)
– **Saturday, 19 July:** Lions v Australia, 1st Test (Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium)
– **Tuesday, 22 July:** Lions v First Nations & Pasifika XV (Melbourne, Marvel Stadium)
– **Saturday, 26 July:** Lions v Australia, 2nd Test (Melbourne, MCG)
– **Saturday, 2 August:** Lions v Australia, 3rd Test (Sydney, Accor Stadium)
Adding to the broadcast spectacle, a familiar array of punditry is poised to enhance the coverage, with Warren Gatland and Dan Biggar offering expert insight, and speculation mounting over Joe Marler’s potential addition to the line-up.
One of the more intriguing developments in this year’s tour revolves around the potential introduction of “golden-point” extra-time in the event of a drawn series — a direct response to the anticlimactic finish to the 2017 tour. Rugby Australia’s Phil Waugh has recommended the rule, though the final decision rests with the Lions’ own board. Meanwhile, the 20-minute red card replacement system, trialled in the recent Six Nations, will be implemented throughout the series, ensuring teams are not devastatingly disadvantaged for an entire match due to a single red card.
Andy Farrell, who named his 38-man squad back in May, has tapped Maro Itoje to lead — a key figure in the current resurgence of English rugby. Notably, Welsh involvement is scarce this year, with only Jac Morgan (Ospreys) and Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby) set to tour, reflecting both the fierce competition and shifting dynamics of home nations rugby.
The squad boasts an impressive blend of experience and new blood. On the forward front, Ireland and England contribute heavily, while the backline features standout talents such as Bundee Aki, Finn Russell, Marcus Smith and Duhan van der Merwe, suggesting a potent mix of structure and flair likely to challenge Australia’s best.
Beyond the team sheet, the tour also symbolises a revival of one of rugby’s greatest traditions, coming at a time when the sport is actively courting a new generation and striving to maintain its unique culture amidst a rapidly changing global landscape. For fans, the slightly unorthodox morning routines could well become an enduring memory, forging a new chapter in the Lions’ storied legacy.
As the continent-spanning schedule approaches, anticipation builds not just in the home nations, but also among Australian fans who have waited since 2013 for the return of the Lions. With new faces, innovative rules, and a feast of rugby on the menu, the 2025 tour promises to be both a nostalgic nod to tradition and a fresh adventure for players and supporters alike.