The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour kicks off this Friday, June 20, with an eagerly awaited clash against Argentina at Dublin's iconic Aviva Stadium. Set to begin at 8pm BST, this match marks the Lions' first-ever game on Irish soil and the opening act of a demanding ten-match schedule under the stewardship of head coach Andy Farrell.
Captaining the Lions for the very first time is Saracens and England lock Maro Itoje, who brings leadership and experience to a squad brimming with talent and potential. Itoje, embarking on his third Lions tour, will lead a starting fifteen featuring 14 potential Lions debutants, underscoring the fresh energy infused into the team ahead of the high-profile Test series against Australia later this summer.
The Lions' backline boasts Northampton Saints duo Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell at half-backs, with Marcus Smith anchoring full-back duties. Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu partners with Ireland's Bundee Aki in the centres, while England's prolific try-scorer Tommy Freeman and Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe complete a formidable three-quarter line. Van der Merwe, recovering from ankle ligament damage that limited him to just 11 minutes since the Six Nations, is keen to showcase his fitness and impact.
In the forwards, the Lions pack is robust and battle-hardened. Connacht's Finlay Bealham, called up to replace the injured Zander Fagerson, joins England teammates Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie in the front row. Munster captain Tadhg Beirne and Itoje complete the tight five, while the back row features Sale Sharks’ Tom Curry, Ospreys’ Jac Morgan, and Saracens’ Ben Earl. The bench includes seasoned campaigners like Tadhg Furlong, returning from a calf injury, Mack Hansen, back from an ankle setback, and Rónan Kelleher, the sole player featuring in recent URC or Premiership finals.
Andy Farrell expressed his confidence and excitement ahead of the kickoff: “Congratulations to Maro ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time – it is a truly special moment, and one that very few players ever get to experience. Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. This is also our first opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team. We know that Argentina will challenge us up front and out wide – so Friday night will be a tough contest, but also a great occasion for all the fans.”
The opposition, Argentina, arrive with a strong and battle-tested lineup. The Pumas, ranked fifth in the world and ahead of England in eighth, are captained by hooker Julian Montoya, who remarkably takes the field just six days after starting in the Gallagher Premiership final with Leicester Tigers. The Argentine back row is bolstered by Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez, experienced Pablo Matera, and Perpignan’s number eight Joaquin Oviedo.
Full-back Santiago Carreras, set to join Bath from Gloucester this summer, and fly-half Tomas Albornoz are key figures in the Argentine backline. However, Argentina will miss several France-based stars due to Top 14 play-off commitments, including Toulouse’s Juan Cruz Mallia and Bordeaux-Begles second row Guido Petti, along with prop Thomas Gallo.
Argentina's head coach Felipe Contepomi acknowledged the challenges of assembling a cohesive unit after a seven-month hiatus and numerous new faces. “We haven't been together for seven months and now getting together with lots of new faces it has been a challenge, but the guys have been magnificent. They are training with a lot of intensity, we are very pleased with how they adapted,” he said. Contepomi also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the Lions' lineup as a factor simplifying Argentina's own preparations: “For us it is very good, because we needed to focus on us and what we want to do and how we want to do it. And then we expect the best of the best from the British Isles, we know all their players and we expect them to be playing hard. They miss some cohesion or maybe not because they are such top players they can click in one moment.”
The Lions and Argentina have a budding rivalry on Irish soil, with the Pumas having never won in Ireland but coming agonizingly close during a narrow 22-19 defeat at the Aviva Stadium last November. This adds an extra layer of intrigue and intensity to Friday’s encounter.
Adding to the narrative off the pitch, Ireland legend Johnny Sexton, part of the Lions coaching staff, has publicly sought to move past a previous feud with Scotland’s Finn Russell. Sexton remarked, “It’s probably been blown out of proportion, really. I was talking about myself in 2021 and how I felt back then. And it was more really about what I thought [Warren] Gatland was thinking as opposed to what I was thinking. But look, you have to deal with these types of challenges. It won’t be the last time. We had a handshake and a brief chat. He was racing off because those guys who were playing in finals didn’t stay too long. I’m looking forward to catching up with him [Russell] later. What the Lions demands of you is that if there is a rivalry – which there’s not, but if there was – you leave it at the door. I’m here to help him now. I’m here to give him experiences. I’m here to answer questions. I’m not here to force myself on him or tell him what to do. It’s not that relationship. I’m here to help.”
Fans looking to catch the action have multiple viewing options. TG4 offers exclusive free-to-air live coverage starting at 7:20pm, while Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action broadcast from 7pm. talkSPORT provides live commentary with Andrew McKenna and Ben Kay, accessible via their website, app, DAB digital radio, smart speakers, and AM frequencies 1089 or 1053.
Ticket availability remains, albeit at premium prices, with single tickets starting at €148 and pairs from €190 on Ticketmaster. Despite the high cost, the match promises to be a spectacle featuring some of the finest rugby talents from the British Isles and Argentina.
Following the Dublin opener, the Lions embark on their Australian tour leg, beginning with a match against the Western Force in Perth on June 28. The tour itinerary is packed with fixtures against regional sides and culminates in the much-anticipated three-Test series against the Wallabies, scheduled between July 12 and August 2.
As the Lions prepare to showcase their prowess and cohesion for the first time this summer, the clash against Argentina is set to be a stern test and a thrilling spectacle. With both teams hungry to assert dominance, rugby fans worldwide will be glued to the Aviva Stadium this Friday night, witnessing the dawn of what promises to be a memorable tour.
