British and Irish Lions to take on Argentina in warm-up ahead of 2025 Australia tour
Maro Itoje was part of British and Irish Lions squad in 2017 and 2021 tours
©PA
The British and Irish Lions will be taking on Argentina in a warm-up game ahead of their 2025 tour of Australia.
The fixture has been scheduled to be played on Friday 20 June 2025 with Aviva Stadium in Dublin being the venue. The two sides compete for the Lions 1888 Cup which was inaugurated ahead of the 2021 tour of South Africa when they faced Japan in Edinburgh.
The last time Lions and Argentina faced each other was in 2005 when the game ended in a 25-25 draw.
"The opportunity to play in Dublin at Aviva Stadium in front of over 50,000 Lions fans will make for a great occasion and the perfect send-off," Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said.
"British & Irish Lions Tours have a rich heritage built over 130 years of touring but alongside our strong history which we are very proud of, it is important that we look for ways in which to evolve our Tours. This pre-Tour fixture is one such example of this and builds on the success of the pre-Tour fixture against Japan at Murrayfield in 2021 which was a resounding success.
"British & Irish Lions fans are a core part of what makes a great Lions Tour. This fixture in Aviva Stadium gives fans who may not be travelling to Australia the opportunity to see the Lions in action which is really important to us.
"The 1888 Cup match in Dublin will give even more supporters the opportunity to be part of the Lions exciting journey and we look forward to witnessing a Sea of Red in Dublin before we depart for Australia."
Meanwhile, Lions chairman Ieuan Evans is excited about the prospect of facing the Pumas in the iconic Aviva Stadium.
"This fixture is set to be an amazing occasion as well as an important part of our preparation ahead of the 2025 Tour, as we bid to claim our first Lions Series win since 2013. It's hugely exciting for the players selected on the Tour to play a Lions fixture in Aviva Stadium and I'm sure it is something they will all relish.
"Aviva Stadium is one the most iconic venues in World Rugby and has been the scene of some of the greatest moments in rugby over the years. What's more, Dublin is an amazing sporting city, and many rugby and sporting fans will have enjoyed the camaraderie and the warm welcome over the years. It is a wonderful destination for Lions fans and a brilliant setting for our pre-Tour fixture."
