THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS HIGHLIGHT A HUGE YEAR OF RUGBY ON STAN SPORT

February 18, 2025 - Stan today highlighted that 2025 is set to be a massive year for local rugby, with the highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia - a landmark event that only comes around every 12 years - kicking off in June after an electrifying Super Rugby Pacific season

A resurgent Wallabies off the back of the Spring Tour has only increased the anticipation around the world's biggest and most in demand rugby tour, with the nine games against the Wallabies and Super Rugby clubs taking place across six capital cities. More than 40,000 overseas fans will make their way to Australia to cheer on the Lions.

This current Super Rugby Pacific season doubles as a tryout for the tour, with Australian coach Joe Schmidt keeping a close eye on the performances of the Aussie stars who are pushing their case for a Wallabies berth.

And it was some triumphant Aussie sides to kick things off, with debuting superstar Joseph Suaalii helping the NSW Waratahs secure a thrilling victory, while the ACT Brumbies and Western Force similarly picked up nail biting wins in round one. The QLD Reds will get their account underway this Friday.

After the Lions Tour, the action doesn't stop - with The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup commencing in August, as the Wallabies take on South Africa, Argentina, and arch enemies the All Blacks as they attempt to regain the Bledisloe Cup.

The World Rugby Sevens also continues until May, with the defending champion Aussie women looking to go back-to-back, and the men hoping to make a push for the podium in 2025.

Joining the Super Rugby Pacific coverage this year is Wallabies and NSW Waratahs legend Matt Burke, the most-capped fullback and the second-highest scorer in Wallabies history. Burke was not only a key part of the 1999 World Cup-winning Wallabies squad, but also the 2001 side which conquered the British & Irish Lions.

Also new to the team is Cameron Shepherd, a notable fullback and winger for both the Wallabies and Western Force, and Alicia Lucas (née Quirk), a gold medal-winning star of the women's rugby sevens side from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

They join the best minds in the game, with coverage hosted by Michael Atkinson and Nick McArdle, and featuring Wallabies greats Tim Horan, Morgan Turinui, Justin Harrison, James Horwill, Mat Rogers and dual international star Allana Ferguson, with the famous voice of Sean Maloney calling every minute of the action of the Australian clubs games.

The Super Rugby Women's season also kicks off on Friday February 28, with an injection of World Rugby Sevens stars to add to the excitement. Charlotte Caslick, superstar sisters Teagan and Maddison Levi and more have put their hand up to take part, pushing their claims for a place in this year's Women's Rugby World Cup side.

In addition to coverage of every match, Stan Sport's huge lineup of rugby programming is back with plenty of entertainment, and a new addition to keep fans engaged all week long.

Stan Sport is the only place to watch every match of the Super Rugby Pacific, British & Irish Lions Tour, Bledisloe Cup, Six Nations, World Rugby Sevens, The Rugby Championship, Shute Shield, Hospital Cup, Currie Cup, Premiership Rugby, and New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship, plus every match of Super Rugby Women's, Wallabies and Wallaroos test series' and more.

​For more information, please contact:

Jason Evans | Jason.Evans@stan.com.au

For all Stan Publicity assets, go to: www.stan.news