
Rugby
Share
Published 11:23 4 Jul 2025 BST
Updated 12:11 4 Jul 2025 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it.
It is two out of two for the British and Irish Lions on Australian soil after big wins against Western Force and Queensland Reds in the opening two warm up games.
Next up are New South Wales Waratahs at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 5 July at 11am (8pm local time) and fans in Ireland can watch the game on Sky Sports.
The broadcaster has secured the rights to all Lions games for the tour and if you do not have a Sky Sports subscription you can buy a one-day NowTV pass to access the game here.
The game against Waratahs will be the third Lions game of the summer. Defeat to Argentina in Dublin has been followed by dominant victories over Western Force and Reds. Last time out Andy Farrell's men ran out 52-12 winners with a much-changed side that included new captain Maro Itoje and a handful of Irish stars.
There will be 14 changes again for the trip to Sydney and a new captain as Irish international Tadhg Beirne will lead the team. Farrell faced several questions about calling up his son Owen to replace injured Elliot Daly but he did take some time to speak about Beirne's role.
He said: "I know there's the sad news about Elliot and the news about Owen coming is the big one, but the squad that's been picked (to play the Waratahs) is an exciting one. At the top of that is Tadhg as captain. He's honoured and delighted. It took him aback when I told him and that's exactly the type of reaction you want."
Fellow Irish internationals Finlay Bealham, Josh Van Der Flier, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan and James Ryan line up alongside Beirne in a much-changed Lions side.
The Lions team will be:
British and Irish Lions: Keenan, Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Kinghorn, Smith, Mitchell; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham, Beirne, Ryan, Pollock, Van der Flier, Earl
Replacements: Sheehan, Genge, Furlong, McCarthy, Cummings. Morgan, White, M Smith
The Lions will face ACT Brumbies on 9 July followed by an invitational Australia and New Zealand side on 12 July. The first test against the Wallabies will be on Saturday 19 July at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Four key places in Ireland’s November squad that are up for grabs
Decisions, decisions! With head coach Andy Farrell due to name his Nations Championship squad tomorrow, we’ve taken a look at four key places that are up for grabs, and could spring a few surprises. Loosehead prop A mix of injuries and lack of experienced depth may force Farrell into opting for a relative newcomer, or […]
Rugby
2 days ago
Lions rugby club player Hyron Andrews dies at team hotel in France
He was just 31 years old Former Sale Sharks player Hyron Andrews has died aged 31 at his team hotel in France. As reported by Ici La Rochelle, Andrews, a member of the South African team Lions, was found in the squad hotel on l’île de Ré, an island just off the coast of the […]
Rugby
5 days ago
Peter O’Mahony open to Munster role after huge criticism of province
Rugby