Neil Treacy

RTÉ Sport Journalist

18 July 2025; Team captains Maro Itoje of British & Irish Lions, left, and Harry Wilson of Australia pose with the trophy during a photocall ahead of the first test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Odds stacked in Lions' favour for first Wallabies Test

Neil Treacy previews Saturday's first Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane.

British and Irish Lions • 18 Jul

18 July 2025; Assistant coach Jonathan Sexton speaks to the media after a British & Irish Lions captain's run at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Sexton: 'This is the week we waited for'

Twelve years on from winning a Lions Test in Brisbane, Johnny Sexton is hoping history can repeat itself at Suncorp.

British and Irish Lions • 18 Jul

Wallabies fight for eyes as Lions take over Brisbane

Walking around Brisbane on Thursday, it wouldn't take you long to know the British and Irish Lions are in town. The only issue would be figuring out who they are playing.

Rugby • 18 Jul

5 July 2025; British & Irish Lions captain Tadhg Beirne celebrates his team winning a turnover during the tour match between NSW Waratahs and the British & Irish Lions at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Steve Christo/Sportsfile

Farrell backs Beirne's 'big match temperament'

A couple of months ago, it would have seemed peculiar that including Tadhg Beirne in the side for the first Test against the Wallabies would have been seen as a major call, but Lions tours can throw up some unusual situations.

Rugby • 17 Jul

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Tadhg Beirne of British & Irish Lions leaves the field during the tour match between AUNZ XI and British & Irish Lions at Adelaide Oval on July 12, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Beirne starts among eight Irish for Lions Test opener

Saturday's opening British and Irish Lions Test against Australia will feature a record eight Irish players in the starting team, as head coach Andy Farrell puts faith in his Irish and Leinster core against the Wallabies.

Rugby • 17 Jul

29 November 2024; Rob Valetini during an Australia rugby captain's run at Wanderers RFC in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Blow for Wallabies as Valetini and Skelton miss out

Australia's injury problems are continuing ahead of Saturday's first Test the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane, with influential forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini failing to recover from injury.

Rugby • 17 Jul

12 July 2025; British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell after the tour match between AUNZ XV and the British & Irish Lions at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Irish set to dominate in Farrell's Lions Test squad

Both Australia and the British and Irish Lions are due to name their teams for Saturday's first Test in Brisbane.

Rugby • 16 Jul

9 July 2025; Dan Sheehan of British & Irish Lions during the tour match between ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia. Photo by Steve Christo/Sportsfile

Sheehan: These are the games you think about

The final selections meetings have been held and the players will have been told if they've made the final cut of 23 for Saturday's opening British and Irish Lions Test against the Wallabies on Saturday.

Rugby • 16 Jul

12 July 2025; Thomas Clarkson of Ireland on his way to scoring his side's sixth try during the International Rugby Test match between Portugal and Ireland at Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Clarkson the latest Irish player called up by Lions

The Irish dominance of the 2025 British and Irish Lions is continuing, with Thomas Clarkson becoming the latest Ireland international to be called up to the squad in Australia.

Rugby • 13 Jul

DUBLIN, IRELAND - JUNE 16: Luke Cowan-Dickie throws the ball ahead of Jamie George during a training session as part of the British & Irish Lions media access at UCD Bowl on June 16, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

George joins Lions squad following Cowan-Dickie injury

England's Jamie George is the latest player to have been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad ahead of next week's opening Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Rugby • 12 Jul