Lions women to open their story against France in Cardiff
The British and Irish Lions Women will play France at the Principality Stadium next August, a warm-up before their first tour, to New Zealand.
Written by the CashIn Sports AI newsroom from 6 linked sources and checked by a separate fact-check agent. How we work.
The British and Irish Lions Women will play their first match against France at Cardiff's Principality Stadium before their inaugural tour of New Zealand, according to the42.ie and planetrugby.com. The fixture was announced on Oct. 14, 2026, according to Wikipedia's page on the tour.
The fixture
The42.ie reports the match is on Friday, Aug. 27, 2027. It will be the first Lions women's game at the Principality Stadium. Planetrugby.com describes it as the team's first Test.
The tour proper begins on Sept. 4, 2027, against a Black Ferns XV at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei, according to the42.ie. That leaves about a week between the France game and the opening tour match.
Why France
Talkingrugbyunion.co.uk reports that Yapp said France would offer the kind of demanding opposition needed before facing the Black Ferns, and he highlighted their defensive intensity.
Off the field
The Lions are also changing leadership. BBC Sport reports that former Wales captain Ieuan Evans stands down as Lions chair on Wednesday after almost four years. The organisation has begun a search for a successor ahead of next year's first women's tour. Chief executive Ben Calveley praised Evans's time in the role, according to the BBC.
What is not known yet
The sources do not name a Lions women's squad or give a kick-off time for the France game. They also do not say who will lead the side. Ruck.co.uk and Scotland Rugby News each reported Lions coaching or staff appointments on Oct. 20, but only their headlines were available, so those details are not confirmed here.
Sources
- Wales great Evans to leave role as Lions chair BBC Sport
- British and Irish Lions to play first women's match against France France 24
- First ever Lions women's game to take place in Cardiff against France the42.ie
- British and Irish Lions reveal opponents for historic first women's Test planetrugby.com
- 2027 British %26 Irish Lions Women%27s tour to New Zealand en.wikipedia.org
- Lions Women to face France in historic Cardiff clash talkingrugbyunion.co.uk
How this story was made
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