2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia
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@antipodean i wonder if its just a case of NZR thinks its too early to commit so theyre kind of "yeah...that could be cool"
come 2025 if they had a player coming back they wanted to get some game time too without being in the AB's or ABXV then they might release them to play....but if not they havent committed
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Definitely agree with the extra revenue angle, but if it works (including getting decent players), then would be a fun watch.
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@Kiwiwomble Yeah, NZR will have their own plans for the July 2025 test window, with probably three All Blacks test matches at home (and maybe a few for the ABs XV) and then the preparation for the Rugby Championship. That will have their priority. Releasing current ABs for that game will have to fit in those plans. Indeed, maybe fringe ABs or players returning from injury, but I can't see them risk our top players unless they get some serious coin for it.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I believe it's France expected in 2025 for the ABs so yes they'll have their hands full.
Lions in Oz, the RWC champs Vs the runners up in NZ. Might have to do a winter trip down under.
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@antipodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@KiwiMurph said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
The Roar reporting that the NZ component of the ANZAC team will be overseas based former ABs (Mo'unga etc)
Just the ones that could use a little more money in their pocket eh
Assuming the quality ones are interested. I'm curious as to why it's presented as "NZR supported" when Kiwis not contracted to NZR can do as they wish.
To my cynical POV it's a tacit recognition that there isn't the depth to come up with an Australian Invitation XV, but they still want the revenue from another game.
It's more that the Anzac team has ABs branding attached to it, which makes it more sellable, and NZR get some money, too. But real ABs will be playing France, tho I guess they might release some ABs XV types if needed
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@Dan54 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
And it is not a f***ing Anzac team anyway, unless we restricting it too army boys!!
Considering the last time there was an Australia and NZ Army Corps was 1941, they might be a bit old to take on the Lions. Although the ANZAC designation as a word was applied in Timor Leste, those guys are only going to be mostly in their 40s
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@NTA It was 36 days last time too - with one extra game.
Even the 1989 tour was only 12 games and 43 days and that was padded out with some seriously understrength sides like NSW Country.
You have to go back almost 50 years to get a three-month tour of 20+ matches and never to Oz
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I hope the do this jersey and not something crazy and new, maybe Fluro, like the world XV had, would actually consider buying a modern version of this
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In a move that will surprise no one, Farrell had been named lions coach for the tour. So maybe the apprentice will become the master (Schmidt) as this looks like the easiest lions tour ever coming up. Ozzie at an all time low, and an improved build up over recent tours. Possibly even a record low for English players too, with Ireland ascendant.
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@Machpants said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
In a move that will surprise no one, Farrell had been named lions coach for the tour. So maybe the apprentice will become the master (Schmidt) as this looks like the easiest lions tour ever coming up. Ozzie at an all time low, and an improved build up over recent tours. Possibly even a record low for English players too, with Ireland ascendant.
Lions teams are always strongest when there’s real diversity within the ranks. With that in mind I hope there’s a fair smattering of
BoksScots in there -
@MN5 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Machpants said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
In a move that will surprise no one, Farrell had been named lions coach for the tour. So maybe the apprentice will become the master (Schmidt) as this looks like the easiest lions tour ever coming up. Ozzie at an all time low, and an improved build up over recent tours. Possibly even a record low for English players too, with Ireland ascendant.
Lions teams are always strongest when there’s real diversity within the ranks. With that in mind I hope there’s a fair smattering of
BoksScots in thereI think that will be the case, it won't be the English and others lions this time
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Two years is a long time in rugby.
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@Kiwiwomble said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
I hope the do this jersey and not something crazy and new, maybe Fluro, like the world XV had, would actually consider buying a modern version of this
I still have, and wear, the original version of this.
