British & Irish Lions news: 2025 tour of Australia – Test series preview, betting odds and predictions
The highly anticipated start of the British & Irish Lions vs Australia Test series kicks off on Saturday, July 19.
But what are the intriguing talking points and potential match-winning moments, and who are the players that you should look out for over the course of the series?
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo previews the Test series Down Under, provides the series odds, and offers his predictions.
British & Irish Lions news: Lions deliver professional performance against star-studded AU-NZ Invitational side
Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad topped off their warm-up section of the tour with possibly their best performance to date.
Beating a team filled with New Zealand and Australian stars, Farrell’s side scored 48 unanswered points.
So, was this the best performance of the tour thus far, with the Test series just around the corner?
And which players gave Farrell and his fellow coaches a few last-minute selection headaches?
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett weighs in on these questions ahead of the Test series against the Wallabies.
British & Irish Lions news: Complete fixture list and opposition breakdown for Australia tour
The British & Irish Lions are set to play 10 games as part of their 2025 tour to Australia, with nine of those taking place Down Under.
Ahead of the much-anticipated tour, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliot takes a look at the fixture list and breaks down each opposition team.
British & Irish Lions news: Six Wallabies to look out for on the eagerly awaited tour to Australia
With the British and Irish Lions squad officially confirmed by Head Coach Andy Farrell and his team, it’s time to look forward to the team in gold and green looking to crush the hearts of stalwart Lions supporters.
After a turbulent couple of years for Australian rugby, the appointment of Joe Schmidt in that team has galvanised the national outfit and aided in steadying the ship.
With the Wallabies going from strength to strength, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett assesses six of the national team’s most relentless players to look out for on tour.
British & Irish Lions news: The top five Lions players of all time
Since their inception in 1888, the British & Irish Lions have gone down in rugby folklore, with every player to have ever donned the famous jersey being etched in the history books forever.
Yet, while all Lions players can be considered legends of the game in their own right, some will be remembered particularly fondly.
Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott takes a look at the top five Lions players of all time.
British & Irish Lions news: Lions pass their hardest test so far against the Brumbies
This week saw the match-ups between Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions and the Australian franchises come to an end after a 36-24 triumph over the ACT Brumbies on July 9.
The Lions finished with a perfect record in these warm-up games.
The Lions now go on to face the Australian–New Zealand Invitational squad – which, despite being filled with some Southern Hemisphere stars, should be a much more disjointed squad, similar to a Barbarians-esque set-up.
So, with the Brumbies being the best Australian team in Super Rugby Pacific, what did Farrell and his coaches learn from this game, and the games against all of the other Australian franchises?
Here, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett discusses the road ahead for Farrell and the Lions.
Rugby union news: South Africa vs Italy — Springboks triumph over gutsy Azzurri
The Springboks triumphed over Italy 42-24 in the first of two Test matches on Saturday, July 5, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The Azzurri’s grit gave Rassie Erasmus’ men problems at different points in the encounter, with the Boks showing moments of magic, but also signs of frailty that left them with plenty to work on ahead of the second Test.
Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo looks back on the events of the first Test in Pretoria.
British & Irish Lions news: Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones seal hard-fought win over tough Waratahs
The most recent fixture of Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions tour Down Under saw them take on the iconic New South Wales Waratahs.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Garrett takes a look at how the Waratahs created such a tight encounter and considers which players showed good signs during the most competitive game thus far.
Rugby union news: Springboks vs Italy – Bok powerhouses return to overpower Azzurri
The Springboks’ heavy hitters have returned to the match-23 ahead of the official start of their international season when they take on Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, July 5.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo previews the massive clash.
British & Irish Lions news: Tourists crush Reds in Brisbane, call up Owen Farrell for injured Elliot Daly
Tuesday saw Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions team convincingly beat another Australian Super Rugby Pacific side in the form of the Queensland Reds.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Garrett takes a look at the standout aspects of the Lions’ victory and considers which players put their hands up for the first Test.
Rugby union news: Springboks vs Barbarians - Rusty Boks run rampant over BaaBaas
A rusty, makeshift Springbok side ran a second-half clinic over the Barbarians, decimating their challengers 54-7 on a cold and wet night at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, June 28.
Rassie Erasmus’ men comprised a mixture of World Cup winners along with promising prospects.
Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo reviews the Springboks’ dominant showing against the BaaBaas.
British and Irish Lions news: Lions crush Western Force with second-half onslaught
After a tasty introduction in Dublin against Argentina, Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions took on the quality and iconic Perth-based Western Force on Saturday, June 28.
In the aftermath of the tour-opener in Dublin there were certainly more questions than answers for Farrell and his coaching team.
A lot was made of the lack of directness and poor cohesion in the loose and in the set piece in the side’s first outing against the Pumas.
Sports News Blitz’s rugby writer Jacob Garrett gives his assessment on what we learned from the opener Down Under.
British & Irish Lions news: Player watch – Ellis Genge shines, Marcus Smith struggles vs Argentina
The British & Irish Lions fell to a narrow defeat against Argentina in Dublin last week as Andy Farrell got a first look at his squad in Test-match conditions ahead of the tour to Australia.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Garrett takes a look at three players who benefitted from the loss at the Aviva and one who did not.
Breaking rugby news: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi out of Barbarians clash, Jesse Kriel to lead hosts
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has withdrawn from the clash against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28 after picking up a slight injury, with experienced outside centre Jesse Kriel taking the reins as skipper.
Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo reports on the breaking news.
Rugby union news: New Zealand vs France – Scott Robertson opts for pace and inexperience in All Blacks squad
New Zealand are set to welcome bitter rivals France for an exciting three-Test series this summer, with All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson opting for pace and inexperience in his squad selection.
The first Test takes place on July 5, the second on July 12, followed by a third on July 19.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo weighs in on whether or not Razor’s new-look squad will have enough quality to triumph over Les Bleus.
Rugby union news: Springboks vs Barbarians – Rassie Erasmus backs rookies for BaaBaas clash
Saturday promises a historical occasion as the Springboks and Barbarians clash for the first time on South African soil, with Cape Town’s DHL Stadium the venue.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo takes an in-depth look at Rassie Erasmus’ selections and offers a score prediction.
British & Irish Lions news: Andy Farrell’s disjointed team beaten by Argentina in Dublin warm-up
It was a classic disjointed British & Irish Lions performance in Dublin on Friday as Andy Farrell’s charges came unstuck against an ever-improving Argentina, losing 28-24 to Felipe Contepomi and co.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Garrett reviews the game at the Aviva.
Rugby union news: Erasmus trims Springbok squad ahead of Barbarians clash
On Sunday, June 15, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus trimmed his squad from 55 to 45 players ahead of the start of the Boks’ international season.
With plenty of injury replacements and some surprise omissions, much has been debated about the make-up of the Boks ahead of their first game against the Barbarians.
Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo presents an overview of the new-look Springbok squad and the reaction coming out of the camp.
British & Irish Lions news: Player watch – Premiership, United Rugby Championship semi-finals
With three of four semi-finals across the English Premiership and United Rugby Championship involving constituent nations of the British & Irish Lions, several members of Andy Farrell’s squad for the upcoming tour to Australia had a welcome run-out in pressure matches.
Here, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Jacob Garrett reviews the weekend’s action and considers which Lions players put their hands up to start against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies side.
Springboks news: Rassie Erasmus charges into the 2025 Test season with bold 54-man squad
On Thursday, June 5, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus named his first official Test squad consisting of 54 players for the season-opening clashes against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia.
The squad blends explosiveness and versatility with a make-up that balances youth and experience.
What this means for the 2025 Test season - Sports News Blitz’s Aidan Leo discusses.