The British & Irish Lions are heading to Australia for the first time since 2013 as arguably the coolest tradition in sports is back in 2025. The Lions are an institution that tours South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, with one tour every four years.
The Lions will travel to Australia to face Australia’s Super Rugby teams, a combined Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV, and play three Tests against the Wallabies. This Lions tour includes a one-off Test against Argentina in Dublin on Friday before the touring party heads to the Southern Hemisphere. Here is a preview of that Test.
B&I Lions VS Argentina Venue: Aviva Stadium. Dublin
B&I Lions VS Argentina Date: Friday, June 20
BetXchange B&I Lions VS Argentina Odds:
History
This is the first match the Lions have ever played in Ireland, as the tour organizers look to bring opponents like Argentina into the fold. It is the first of six warm-up matches that the Lions will play before the first Test, which is scheduled for July 19 at Lang Park in Brisbane.
That means the battle for places in the Text starting XV begins here, with so few matches available for fringe players to stake their claim for a place in the matchday 23.
This will be the first time the Lions have faced the Pumas in 20 years. The last time was a match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May 2025, when the Lions were about to embark on a tour of New Zealand. That match finished in a 25-25 draw.
Historically, matches between the Liuons and Argentina are sporadic. The previous six games occurred before World War II, with the Lions touring Argentina in 1910, 1927, and 1936. The Lions won all six of those Tests by a combined score of 211-6.
British & Irish Lions
Head coach Andy Farrell has named his first Lions 23 early to quiet the noise around potential selection battles.
Marcus Smith will start at fullback, with the dynamic Blair Kinghorn still in France with Toulouse in the Top 14 playoffs. Three players missing through injury who hope to factor in the Test 23 are Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Hugo Keenan.
Sione Tuipulotu will be given every chance to prove his fitness at 13 as he partners Bundee Aki of Ireland in a menacing midfield partnership. Tuipolotu hasn’t played international rugby since facing Australia back in November, but has recovered from injury just in time to make the plane.
Argentina
Argentina has named its strongest possible squad to face the Lions. This includes hooker Julian Montoya captaiing the side and hoping to bounce back after losing the Premiershup Final with Leicester against Bath just six days before this contest.
Other names to look out for include the always electric Santiago Carreras at fullback, Tomas Albornoz at fly-half, and a destructive back row featuring Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo, and Pablo Matera.
This match would be even more interesting if the Pumas were not without several key players involved in the Top 14 playoffs. Bordauex second row Guido Petti and Toulouse utility back Juan Cruz Mallia are two who miss out for this reason.
Best Bets
Argentina hasn’t been together in seven months. That will be an issue, but the Lions have plenty of combinations (like Aki and Tuipolotu) who have never played together. Lions’ sides typically start their tours slowly as these combinations work themselves out, so I like Argentina to cover the 17.5 points they are being given easily.
