Lions Women to Play First Match Against France in Cardiff

The British & Irish Lions women’s team will play France at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on August 27, 2027, in the first match in the team’s history. The fixture will precede the squad’s inaugural tour of New Zealand, scheduled to begin on September 4. The match, announced as the Howden Lions Women’s Cup, is the Lions women’s final scheduled fixture before the tour. Kickoff is listed as 7:30 p.m. in one report. The Lions have not yet named the squad that will take part. The New Zealand tour is set to open against a Black Ferns XV at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei. The schedule then includes three Tests against New Zealand and a match against an Invitational XV. The first Test is scheduled for September 11 in Auckland, the Invitational XV match for September 14 in Hamilton, the second Test for September 18 in Wellington and the final Test for September 25 in Christchurch. Lions head coach Jo Yapp described France as an ideal opponent and said the match would provide a demanding test before the New Zealand tour. The fixture will give supporters an opportunity to see the team play before it travels, though the eventual squad’s composition has not been established.