British and Irish Lions women to face France in historic first match
The British & Irish Lions women's team will play their historic first-ever fixture against France in Cardiff before embarking on their inaugural New Zealand tour.
- Development: British and Irish Lions women to face France in historic first match
- Core Takeaway: The British & Irish Lions women's team will play their historic first-ever fixture against France in Cardiff before embarking on their inaugural New Zealand tour.
- Context: Primary reporting aggregated across independent newsrooms and verified against CurrentDeck standards.
Jo Yapp and Ben Calveley announce historic Cardiff opener against France
The British & Irish women's squad will kickstart their 2027 tour schedule on home soil, facing France in Cardiff on Friday 27 August. In what will be the Lions women's first ever match, ahead of the inaugural Tour to New Zealand in 2027, they will take on Six Nations rivals France at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, according to reports from BBC Sport, RTÉ, and Sky Sports.
Dubbed 'The Howden Lions Women's Cup', the fixture will be the first opportunity to watch Jo Yapp’s side in action before heading to New Zealand. Ben Calveley, CEO of The British & Irish Lions, noted that the venue is a special place with a rich heritage that provides a fitting stage for the occasion.
"There are moments in sport that only come around once - and this is one of them. For our British & Irish Lions Women’s team to step onto the field for the first time, on home soil and in front of our fans, is going to be incredibly special."
Jo Yapp, British & Irish Lions women’s head coach
Yapp stated that France are the ideal team for an occasion like this, bringing a relentless defence and a real edge in attack. Carol Isherwood, chair of the Lions women's committee, compared the challenge of bringing players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales together with no time to the Harlem Globetrotters.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | The Howden Lions Women's Cup: British & Irish Lions women v France |
| Date | Friday 27 August (19:30 BST according to BBC Sport) |
| Venue | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| Opponent Status | Ranked fourth in the world; 2025 World Cup semi-finalists; runners-up to England in the last seven Six Nations championships |
Inaugural New Zealand tour itinerary and match schedule
Following the Cardiff opener, the Lions women's tour begins in September 2027 before concluding later that month with a three-Test series against the Black Ferns.
| Date | Fixture | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 4 September | Black Ferns XV vs Lions women | Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei |
| Saturday 11 September | First test against the Black Ferns | Go Media Stadium, Auckland |
| Tuesday 14 September | Invitational XV vs Lions | FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton |
| Saturday 18 September | Second test | Wellington |
| Saturday 25 September | Third and final test | One NZ Stadium, Christchurch |
Isherwood explained that the committee looked at different options, including going abroad as the men have previously, but the Welsh Rugby Union said they felt they could do a great job at Principality Stadium. A crowd of 21,186 previously set a record for a Wales women's home game in any sport when watching the Six Nations defeat by England at the Cardiff venue in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Lions women's first match taking place?
The British & Irish Lions women will face France at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 27 August.
Who is coaching the British & Irish Lions women's team?
Jo Yapp serves as the head coach for the squad.
What does the New Zealand tour schedule include?
The tour features matches against a Black Ferns XV in Whangarei, an Invitational XV in Hamilton, and a three-test series against the Black Ferns in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
The opening game against France will present a huge test as Jo Yapp and her coaching staff work to build an environment where players from different systems can compete at their best.
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