**British and Irish Lions Set to Open Australian Tour Against Western Force: How to Watch Live in the UK**
The highly anticipated British and Irish Lions rugby tour is poised to kick off its 2025 campaign in Australia, returning ‘Down Under’ for the first time in over a decade. Rugby fans will be closely watching as the Lions take to the field against the Western Force this Saturday, a fixture that not only marks the start of a six-week sporting tour de force, but also reignites one of rugby’s most celebrated traditions.
Excitement has been steadily building, with the Lions eager to move past a narrow defeat to Argentina in last week’s 1888 Cup clash in Dublin—a result that saw them fall 28-24 to a well-drilled Pumas side. Despite the loss, head coach and players alike insist that such a result so early in their assembly should not be a cause for alarm, citing limited preparation time since convening as a squad.
This year’s tour carries added significance, as it brings the Lions back to Australia for the first time since 2013, when the iconic side, then led by Welsh legend Sam Warburton, achieved their last series triumph. The tour remains a landmark event on the sporting calendar, not just for its storied history, but the sense of unity and rivalry it invokes across the home nations.
Notably, Welsh representation in the Lions camp is at a record low this time around, with Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams standing as the only representatives from Wales. Both will be eager to make their presence felt, competing fiercely for a place in the squad to face the Wallabies when the Test series commences in July.
Before those crucial matches, however, the Lions will navigate a challenging warm-up schedule. Their itinerary will see them take on several top Super Rugby franchises, culminating in a fascinating encounter against a combined Australia and New Zealand invitational side at Adelaide Oval—an innovative addition set to draw significant attention. After the first official Test, the Lions have also scheduled a match against a First Nations and Pasifika XV, broadening the cultural and sporting reach of the tour before wrapping things up with consecutive Test games against hosts Australia.
The forthcoming match against Western Force is set to launch the Lions’ campaign and will be held at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Kick-off is scheduled for 11am UK time on Saturday, 28 June, corresponding to 6pm local time in the host city. UK viewers eager to follow the action live can tune in to Sky Sports, with the game being broadcast across both the Main Event and Action channels. Sky Sports is also the exclusive broadcaster for the entirety of the Lions tour, offering every warm-up and all three official Test matches as part of its sports packages.
Team selections have spurred considerable debate, with the Lions fielding a squad that includes Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, and James Lowe among the backs, as well as Finn Russell starting at fly-half and Tomos Williams at scrum-half. Ireland’s Dan Sheehan takes on the captain’s role for the opener, supported by a pack that brings together both established stars and rising talents. On the bench, a blend of youth and experience ensures depth across all positions.
Western Force, for their part, will be aiming to exploit their home advantage, with a starting line-up featuring Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, and Ollie Hoskins up front, and the experienced Nic White taking the captaincy at scrum-half. Their squad blends proven performers with promising new faces, reflecting the competitive nature of Australian Super Rugby.
With anticipation reaching fever pitch and a packed schedule ahead, rugby enthusiasts across the UK and beyond will be looking forward to a summer of top-class international rugby. The Lions, with their unique composite spirit, will seek to lay down an early marker and bring back memories of past glory—while fans at home have every reason to settle in for a festival of exhilarating sporting drama.