No more warm-ups, no more rehearsals, it is time for the British & Irish Lions’ first Test against Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
For the first time since 2013, the Lions will be taking on the Wallabies in a three-Test series and will be looking to emulate the 2-1 victory achieved by the side captained by Sam Warburton 12 years ago.
While the 2025 tour began with a narrow defeat against Argentina in the 1888 Cup in Dublin, the Lions have plenty of momentum on their side after winning all five of their matches on Australian soil so far.
Here’s all you need to know about their Test opponents…
History
The first match in the history of the Australian national team came against the British & Irish Lions in 1899 in the first of a four-Test series at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Although the hosts won that inaugural clash 13-3, it was the Lions who won that series 3-1.
The Lions have played Tests in Australia on eight tours since, losing a one-off Test in 1930 and winning six of the seven series that have taken place.
Following the Lions, the Wallabies’ most historic rivalry has been against New Zealand with 179 Tests played since their first meeting in 1903 and the Bledisloe Cup has been contested by the two teams since 1932.
Rugby union has had to compete against other sports for popularity in Australia through the years, but a golden era for their national side began in the 1980s, including a first Grand Slam tour of the home nations in 1984.
Legends of the game such as Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones and Michael Lynagh all featured as the Wallabies went from strength to strength.
David Campese had become the world’s most renowned winger by the time the Wallabies, by then captained by Farr-Jones and featuring John Eales and Tim Horan, won the 1991 Rugby World Cup by defeating England 12-6 at Twickenham.
Eales then skippered a team including George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Horan again as Australia became the first two-time world champions in 1999 by easing past France 35-12 in Cardiff.
They have since reached two World Cup finals but were beaten by England, and Jonny Wilkinson’s last-minute drop goal in extra time, in 2003 and by the All Blacks in 2015.
Since the inception of the Rugby Championship (then the Tri Nations) in 1996, the Wallabies have won the competition on four occasions, the most recent in 2015.
Since a 2023 World Cup campaign that ended with a first-ever group stage exit, Australia have enjoyed a revival of fortunes under head coach Joe Schmidt, including a notable victory over England last autumn.
Squad
There are two members of the 36-player Australia squad who featured in the 2013 Test series against the Lions in fly-half James O’Connor and prop James Slipper.
Ahead of his move to Leicester Tigers, O’Connor, 35, has been recalled by the Wallabies after first choice No.10 Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the series following neck surgery, after being stretched off in their 21-18 win over Fiji two weeks ago.
Slipper, meanwhile, is Australia’s most-capped player with 143 Test appearances, with the 36-year-old overtaking George Gregan’s previous record of 139 against New Zealand in September last year.
Schmidt has not named a captain for the series yet, although Harry Wilson has skippered the Wallabies in recent games while Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou have all been named in the squad despite injury issues.
Players to watch
A lot of Australian hopes are being pinned on centre Joseph Sua'ali'i, the rugby league convert who made an immediate impact in union with a player-of-the-match performance in the Wallabies’ 42-37 victory over England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham last year.
The 21-year-old’s athleticism sees him combine a prodigious leap, searing pace and plenty of power in his 6ft 5in frame to devastating effect and he can be expected to play a prominent role in the series.
Should Will Skelton be fit for the first Test, following a calf injury that ruled him out of the Wallabies’ warm-up against Fiji, it would be the giant lock’s second crack at the Lions.
Skelton played against them for the NSW Waratahs in the 2013 tour and Australia will welcome the presence of a now far more-rounded player so outstanding during spells in Europe with Saracens and La Rochelle in their second row.
In the front row, loosehead Angus Bell, who will be joining Ulster following the series, has emerged as an agile yet physical prop.
There is also set to be a fascinating battle in the back row, with Wilson favourite to start at No.8 and flanker Fraser McReight a formidable presence at the breakdown as well as with the ball in hand.
Tom Wright has emerged as high-class full-back capable of counter attacking from just about anywhere in recent years and one that scored a hat-trick against Wales during last year’s Autumn Nations Series.
Venue
Suncorp Stadium – historically known as Lang Park – opened way back in 1914, although it was extensively redeveloped in the early 2000s into the 52,500-capacity arena that stands today.
It is a stadium of many purposes, although traditionally, the stadium is the home of rugby league in Brisbane, hosting State of Origin matches and being the home ground for NRL sides Brisbane Broncos and the Dolphins.
It hosted the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final, when Australia defeated England.
In rugby union, it has been the home of Queensland Reds since 2005 and has hosted 42 Test matches. It was also the venue of the Lions’ 52-12 victory over the Reds earlier in the current tour.
Suncorp Stadium has been increasingly used for football, including being home to A-League team Brisbane Roar, and will host the gold-medal matches in the 2032 Olympics after being one of the venues for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
It also played host to the world welterweight boxing title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Australia’s Jeff Horn in 2017 which the latter won via a unanimous decision.
Outside of sport, Suncorp Stadium is a popular music venue, with Lady Gaga and Metallica due to play there later in the year.