The British and Irish Lions have confirmed the historic fixtures and schedule for the first-ever women's tour, which will see the inaugural female Lions squad travel to New Zealand in September 2027 for a groundbreaking three-Test series against the six-time world champion Black Ferns.
Historic Tour Itinerary Revealed
The landmark 2027 Howden British & Irish Lions Women's Series will visit five cities across New Zealand's North and South Islands, with the tour kicking off on Saturday 4 September in Whangārei at Semenoff Stadium against a Black Ferns XV. The comprehensive schedule includes three crucial Test matches against the full Black Ferns side, alongside additional tour fixtures designed to provide competitive preparation.
Test Match Venues and Schedule
The three Test matches will be staged in major rugby centres across New Zealand, beginning in Auckland at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 11 September. The series then moves to Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday 18 September before concluding at the brand new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday 25 September. Notably, the tour will not visit Auckland's iconic Eden Park, which hosted the 2022 Women's Rugby World Cup final, with the smaller Go Media Stadium selected instead.
An additional midweek fixture against an Invitational XV will take place in Hamilton at FMG Stadium Waikato on Tuesday 14 September, providing further competitive opportunities for the touring squad. Discussions have previously been held about a potential pre-tour fixture against France, though no confirmation has been provided regarding this possibility.
Leadership and Coaching Developments
Ben Calveley, chief executive of the British and Irish Lions, described the announcement as "a hugely significant milestone" that brings the historic tour closer for players dreaming of wearing the famous red jersey and fans planning their travel. The appointment of a head coach for the inaugural tour is expected later this year, with current England coach John Mitchell having expressed interest following his successful World Cup campaign with the Red Roses.
However, Lions officials have indicated a strong preference for significant female representation within the coaching team and wider staff structure. Former England international Carol Isherwood, who chairs the Lions women's committee, has been overseeing development programmes through the Gallagher High Performance Academy in partnership with World Rugby to cultivate more female coaches for elite rugby.
Selection Philosophy and Competitive Balance
Despite England's current dominance in European women's rugby, Lions management have firmly dismissed suggestions of implementing any quota system to ensure representation from all four home nations. Officials insist that Welsh, Scottish and Irish players will earn selection purely on merit, with the best available talent from across Britain and Ireland forming the historic first squad.
Questions remain about the competitive balance of the series, with New Zealand undergoing a rebuilding phase after losing their World Cup crown and suffering a semi-final exit to Canada in the recent tournament. The Black Ferns have appointed Whitney Hansen as head coach through to the end of 2027, following her assistant role under Allan Bunting during the World Cup campaign.
Complete 2027 Tour Schedule
The confirmed fixtures for the Howden British & Irish Lions Women's Series are as follows (kick-off times to be confirmed):
- Saturday 4 September: Whangārei, Semenoff Stadium – versus Black Ferns XV
- Saturday 11 September: Auckland, Go Media Stadium – versus Black Ferns (First Test)
- Tuesday 14 September: Hamilton, FMG Stadium Waikato – versus Invitational XV
- Saturday 18 September: Wellington, Sky Stadium – versus Black Ferns (Second Test)
- Saturday 25 September: Christchurch, One NZ Stadium – versus Black Ferns (Third Test)
This groundbreaking tour represents a major advancement for women's rugby, bringing the prestigious Lions tradition to the women's game for the first time and creating what organisers describe as "something truly special" for the sport's development globally.
