Cardiff gets the first Test
The British and Irish Lions Women now have an opponent for their first Test. France will face them at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday, 27 August 2027, the opening match of the inaugural tour. Head coach Jo Yapp called it a moment that “only comes around once” and described France as “the ideal team for an occasion like this”.
The choice makes sense on paper. France have finished second behind the Red Roses in each of the past seven Six Nations and reached the semi-finals of the 2025 World Cup. Yapp pointed to their defence and attacking edge, which suggests she expects a physical, high-quality opener rather than a ceremonial one.
The venue carries its own weight. This is only the third time the Lions have played on British soil. The men’s side appeared at Murrayfield in 2021 and in Dublin in 2025.
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Then five games in New Zealand
After Cardiff the squad heads to New Zealand for a schedule that builds toward a three-Test series against the Black Ferns. It starts with a game against a Black Ferns XV in Whangarei on 4 September. The first Test follows on 11 September at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
An Invitational XV at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton comes on 14 September. The second Test is in Wellington at Sky Stadium on 18 September, and the series finishes at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on 25 September. Kick-off times have not yet been confirmed.
Lions CEO Ben Calveley said the aim is to “put on a show” both on and off the pitch. WRU chief executive Abi Tierney called the team’s creation a landmark moment for rugby in Wales, saying the momentum behind the women’s game has never been greater.
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