Venues announced for historic women’s Lions tour of NZ

The British and Irish Lions are set to engage in three Test matches in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch as part of their historic inaugural women’s expedition to New Zealand.

Their journey kicks off with a friendly game against a Black Ferns XV at the Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei on 4th September 2027.

The initial Test will take place at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on 11 September, with the renowned Eden Park venue not being utilized as anticipated.

Eden Park is regarded as the heart of New Zealand rugby and the largest stadium in the country.

The Lions will meet an Invitational XV in a midweek game at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato on the 14th of September before their second Test at Wellington’s Sky Stadium just four days later.

The final Test will occur at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium on the 25th of September.

Ben Calveley, the chief executive of the British and Irish Lions, noted that the tour will represent a «significant milestone» that will «establish something genuinely remarkable for women’s rugby».

While historically, fans have traveled with the Lions to the southern hemisphere, it remains unclear how many will journey to support the women’s team.

The series’ competitive balance might also raise concerns.

After claiming six out of the last seven championships, New Zealand did not reach the finale of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, being defeated by Canada in the semi-finals.

World champions England, who are comfortably leading the world rankings, have secured the last seven Six Nations titles and triumphed over New Zealand in their latest three encounters, which included a 33-12 victory at the Go Media Stadium two years back.

Steve Lancaster, acting chief executive of New Zealand Rugby, stated that the Lions’ visit promises to be «something truly extraordinary».

«Starting in the north and concluding in the south was an intentional choice to ensure as many regions of the country can partake in this remarkable event as feasible,» he remarked.

«Experiencing international rugby of this calibre in iconic New Zealand locations is set to create an unforgettable experience, and I encourage fans to begin planning to participate in this groundbreaking tour.»

September

4 Black Ferns XV, Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei

11 First Test, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

14 Invitational XV, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

18 Second Test, Sky Stadium, Wellington

25 Third Test, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch

*Kick-off times will be confirmed

This expedition does not aim to portray itself as a replica of the men’s Lions, as the scale of venues, ticket sales, and match schedules reflects the developing women’s sports market.

This is most noticeably seen in the exclusion of Eden Park. The venue was fully booked for the women’s Rugby World Cup final in 2022, yet the benefits for the women’s sport legacy in New Zealand have not yet been fully realized, making a 50,000 capacity arena an impractical aspiration.

There’s excitement surrounding the Invitational XV fixture in Hamilton. Domestic success in 2027 for the Super Rugby Aupiki teams could allow one of them a chance to face the Lions, or it may pave the way for a selection in the style of Barbarians XVs.

Furthermore, interest should rise concerning the appointment of the first Women’s Lions head coach.

However, the timing of the tour poses greater challenges. The events are scheduled close to the commencement of the men’s World Cup in Australia, which begins on 1 October.

Consequently, most of the matches will coincide with men’s international warm-up games.

Media and broadcast focus will likely shift elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the tour should establish its own unique character and ambiance. The ‘sea of red’ associated with men’s campaigns will not serve as a fair benchmark for this inaugural women’s tour, as 2027 will be a real-time case study for how any future women’s Lions tour can be structured.