Lions Tour from Britain and Ireland Wipes Out £30 Million Rugby Australia Financial Obligation
Rugby Australia is aiming to establish an investment fund, thanks to the success of the British and Irish Lions tour that took place in 2025. The tour, which saw travelling players from the Home Nations being paid for their participation, resulted in an estimated £50m for Rugby Australia.
The 2025 tour over-performed, generating cash flow for Rugby Australia through 2026. This surplus may allow the organisation to establish the investment fund earlier than initially planned, possibly even before 2026.
The British and Irish Lions tour to Australia happens once every 12 years. However, the schedule beyond the 2029 tour is yet to be finalised. Meanwhile, the Lions will be touring New Zealand in four years.
The British and Irish Lions entity also received a healthy windfall from the 2025 tour. Despite this, there is no available information about the organiser planning to host the British-Irish Lions in Australia in 2029 or later.
Growing calls suggest that Argentina and France should be included in the Lions' schedule. Whether these suggestions will lead to changes in the tour schedule remains to be seen.
As Rugby Australia looks towards the future, the establishment of an investment fund could provide a solid foundation for the growth and development of the sport in Australia. The success of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour has shown that with careful planning and execution, significant financial benefits can be achieved.
