How to watch British & Irish Lions Tour 2025: live stream rugby union online for FREE from anywhere, Lions vs Argentina warm-up

The British & Lions 2025 tour is always one of rugby union's highlights because they are so rare. Happening once every four years, it's the only time players from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland come together on the same team and tour one of the Southern Hemisphere's giants.
This time, it's Australia and you won't want to miss a second of the action. You can watch the British & Irish Lions 2025 tour from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free.
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour runs from Friday, June 20 to Saturday, August. Full schedule below.► Test match start times: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. BST / 8 p.m. AEST► FREE STREAM — 9Now (Australia)► FREE STREAM — RugbyPass TV (US)► U.S. — FloRugby► U.K. — Watch on Sky Sports► Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 100% risk free
The 38-man Lions squad has been picked, with prop Zander Fagerson already out through injury and replaced by Finlay Bealham, with more training members and others on standby.
In the latter list is Andy Farrell's son, Owen, who though vastly experienced and a three-time Lion has endured a tough season with Racing in France and didn't make the cut. Farrell could well get a late call up, with only Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith the dedicated fly halves.
There's fireworks aplenty in the back division, with Duhan van der Merwe one of the great finishers, center Sione Tuipulotu back from injury and Russell a Scottish trio pulling strings.
In the pack, as well as the impressive captain Maro Itoje, look out for English bolter Henry Pollock, who at 20 is the squad's youngest member but brashest character.
The Lions start their warm-ups in Dublin without the Bath the Leicester players from a recent Grand Final but it's all go, as a tour of Australia awaits.
Check out all of the TV and streaming details below to find out how to watch the British & Irish Lions 2025 tour from anywhere, including for FREE.
Fri, June 20► British & Lions vs Argentina► 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. UK / 5 a.m. AEST (Sat)► Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
Rugby union fans in Australia are in luck, as they can watch the three British & Irish Lions 2025 test matches live streams for FREE. The three tests will be shown on Channel 9, which is available to live stream via the 9Now platform.
Looking to catch the other tour matches? US fans will be able to watch all warm-up fixtures on RugbyPass TV, completely free of charge.
The opening match of the tour, from Dublin's Aviva Stadium, will also be shown on Irish-language channel TG4 for FREE.
Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there's an easy solution. Use a VPN to watch the British & Irish Lions action for free — we'll show you how to do that below.
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the tennis on your usual subscription?
You can still watch the British & Irish Lions 2025 tour live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are, making it ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN — we explain why in our NordVPN review.
There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 115+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. For a limited time only, new subscribers in the US and Canada can also get up to $50 of Amazon vouchers.
Get 70% off NordVPN with this deal
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Aussie service, you'd select Australia from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to 9Now or another streaming service and watch the British & Irish Lions.
If you're a rugby union fan in the U.S., then the place to go for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour is CBS which will show the test match series against Australia via Paramount Plus. You will need the Showtime package ($12.99) to access CBS' live stream.
Every other game - including the 1888 Cup game v Argentina - will be on RugbyPass TV, which as alluded to earlier is free!
Away from the U.S. on vacation right now? Remember to get a NordVPN so you can enjoy your regular British & Irish Lions subscription as you would from back home.
If you live in the Great White North, the British & Irish Lions 2025 live streams will be available on DAZN Canada.
Dedicated streaming service DAZN, available with a 7-day trial, has prices starting from $19.99 per month on a year-long contract. It's $199.99 if you pay for a full year up front, and $29.99 on a flexible month-by-month basis.
DAZN in Canada has the rights to plenty of other sports, too, including boxing and the Club World Cup.
If you're outside Canada but have a subscription, you can watch British & Irish Lions 2025 live streams using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
Sky Sports has the exclusive U.K. and Ireland rights for the British & Irish Lions 2025 tour.
It will go out on the Sky Sports Main Event and the limited time pop-up channel, Sky Sports The Lions.
Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the rugby on mobile devices via the Sky Go app that's available for iOS, iPadOS and Android devices, along with Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
If you want to sign up, you can check out Sky TV deals and packages for today's best prices. Or, if you don't fancy being locked into a contract, you could opt for a NOW Sports membership with plans starting at £14.99 a month.
If you're abraod right now you can still follow your usual British & Irish Lions 2025 live stream by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.
The British & Irish Lions 2025 tour's three test matches are being broadcast for FREE across Channel 9 and 9Gem, with live streaming available for free via 9Now.
What about the warm-up matches? Stan Sport is where you want to go for that. They offer ad-free coverage and and it will cost $36 for the Premium Plan and Sports add-on.
Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on 9Now as if you were back home.
Kiwis can access the British & Irish Lions live streams via Sky Sport Now. This costs $29.99/week, $49.99/month or $499.99/year.
Sky Sport in New Zealand is also the home of Formula 1, and countless other sports from around the world.
Not at home in New Zealand right now? You can still follow every game by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour will be televised on subscription service SuperSport.
You'll need a DStv access package to watch SuperSport with prices starting at R99 per month. The game will be broadcast on their dedicated rugby channel.
Outside South Africa for the tour? Just use a VPN and tell your device that you're back home and you'll be good to go.
If you want to watch the British & Irish Lions in 4K, you'll need the Australia based Stan Sport. It offers ad-free coverage of every match on every court, with the Stan Sport add-on costing $15. You'll also need the Stan Premium base plan, which is $21 per month.
Sky Sports is also an option in the U.K.. You'll need Sky Q Box and the relevant subscription, specifically to Sky Sports Main Event.
Forwards
Click for the Full Squad ▼
Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)Ollie Chessum (England)Jack Conan (Ireland)Luke Cowan-Dickie (England)Scott Cummings (Scotland)Tom Curry (England)Ben Earl (England)Finlay Bealham (Ireland)Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)Ellis Genge (England)Maro Itoje (England, catptain)Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)Joe McCarthy (Ireland)Jac Morgan (Wales)Henry Pollock (England)Andrew Porter (Ireland)James Ryan (Ireland)Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)Dan Sheehan (Ireland)Will Stuart (England)Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
Backs
Bundee Aki (Ireland)Elliot Daly (England)Tommy Freeman (England)Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)Mack Hansen (Ireland)Huw Jones (Scotland)Hugo Keenan (Ireland)Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)James Lowe (Ireland)Alex Mitchell (England)Garry Ringrose (Ireland)Finn Russell (Scotland)Fin Smith (England) Marcus Smith (England)Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)Tomos Williams (Wales)
Click for the full British & Irish Lions schedule ▼
Friday, June 20: vs Argentina
U.S.: 3 p.m. ET / midday PT
U.K.: 8 p.m.
AU: 6 am AEST
Saturday, June 28: vs Western Force
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Wednesday, July 2: vs Queensland Reds
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Saturday, July 5: vs New South Wales Waratahs
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Wednesday, July 9: vs ACT Brumbies
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Saturday, July 12: vs Invitational AU & NZ
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Saturday, July 19: vs Australia (1st test)
US: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Tuesday, July 22: vs First Nations & Pasifika XV
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Saturday, July 26: vs Australia (2nd test)
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
Saturday, August 2: vs Australia (3rd test)
U.S.: 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT
U.K.: 11 a.m.
AU: 8 p.m. AEST
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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Liverpool delivered a huge statement of intent after winning the Premier League title by signing Germany star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. The transfer fee could climb to 116 million pounds ($156 million), which would make the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in the history of British soccer. Liverpool, determined to not stand still after securing a record-tying 20th English top-flight title, has splashed out a club record to bring in not only one of the best players from Germany, but one of the top youngsters in the world. Wirtz has been a key first-team player for Leverkusen since he was 17. He was the outstanding attacking player in the team that won the Bundesliga and German Cup in 2023-24 without losing a game, and is a regular in Germany's national team. It's why Liverpool was ready to pay a guaranteed 100 million pounds, plus 16 million pounds in potential add-ons. Wirtz had two years left on his contract, giving Leverkusen leverage in negotiations. The Premier League record for an initial fee was set when Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for 106.7 million pounds ($131.4 million at the time) in 2023, before the London club agreed to pay up to 115 million pounds ($146 million at the time) for midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton later that year. Liverpool manager Arne Slot arrived last summer and signed just one outfield player — forward Federico Chiesa — for the 2024-25 season. Chiesa barely played and the Reds won the league by 10 points, after which Slot and some of his players — including Virgil van Dijk — spoke about there being big plans for this transfer window. Having already signed right wing back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for a reported 35 to 40 million euros ($39.7 million to $45.4 million), Liverpool has returned to the German club to take Wirtz, who rejected an opportunity to join Bayern Munich — a Bundesliga rival which has long pursued him. One obstacle to that move was the size of the fee Leverkusen wanted. Another was concern over how Wirtz might fit into the same lineup as Jamal Musiala, Germany's other standout young attacking midfielder. Losing Wirtz leaves Leverkusen and its new coach, Erik ten Hag with an even bigger rebuild following the departure of Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid. Just after his 17th birthday, Wirtz became the youngest player in Leverkusen's history when he made his debut against Werder Bremen in May 2020, in an empty stadium at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A month later he was the youngest player to score in Bundesliga history, though that record has since been topped. Wirtz's versatile attacking midfield play was a vital ingredient in Alonso transforming Leverkusen into a team that could win the Bundesliga and German Cup without losing a game. He and Alonso stayed for another sometimes-disappointing season which ended with second place to Bayern in the league and a loss to Bayern in the Champions League round of 16. Wirtz showed he can deal with adversity when a cruciate ligament tear in his knee ruled him out for almost all of 2022 — including Alonso's first games as coach — before he returned to power Leverkusen to its league and cup double in 2023-24. Wirtz has become a vital player for the German national team with 29 caps. He played all five of its matches at Euro 2024 on home soil. He's also had to contend with hostility from fans of his boyhood club Cologne, which he left for nearby Leverkusen at 16. Liverpool and Bayern were reportedly interested then, too. Cologne claimed that deal broke an agreement between the clubs not to pursue each other's youth players. Leverkusen argued Wirtz was so talented that he counted as a first-team player despite his age. Cologne and Leverkusen are barely 10 kilometers (6 miles) apart, so going to Liverpool will be the first time that Wirtz has moved away from his roots. His parents Hans Wirtz and Karin Gross have played a big role in his career — they were also his agents until last year — and he's close to his older sister Juliane, a professional player for Werder Bremen in the women's Bundesliga. Wirtz's decision to turn down Bayern and the Bundesliga for Liverpool has caused some raised eyebrows in Germany. 'I wouldn't have thought Florian would make this switch so early,' former Germany great Lothar Matthäus told broadcaster n-tv last month. 'But he wants to get out of his comfort zone.' Wirtz seems likely to slot in as the No. 10 at Liverpool, a more creative solution in that role compared to the hard-running Dominik Szoboszlai. Whether Slot also now pushes for a new striker as an upgrade to current options Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez remains to be seen. ___

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40 minutes ago

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Liverpool signs Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen

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Inside Florian Wirtz's Liverpool transfer: Why rivals missed out, Slot's role and falling for Kirkby

It was not difficult for Florian Wirtz to picture making Liverpool's training ground his home. In November, the day after Liverpool humbled Bayer Leverkusen — then on a run of just two defeats in the previous 68 games across all competitions — in a Champions League game at Anfield, Wirtz stepped out onto the practice pitches at Kirkby and was blown away by what he saw. Advertisement Xabi Alonso, the Leverkusen manager and former Liverpool midfielder, had politely requested to use the base for warm-down purposes the morning after his team's 4-0 thrashing. Liverpool offered their under-23 pitch, with Leverkusen's players taking part in a light training session and debrief of the previous evening's chastening loss. For Wirtz, the gem of German football it was a clear insight into the future. Wirtz made no secret of being impressed by the facilities and it left Liverpool in a strong position to secure his services if they ever came to firm up their interest. The Athletic has spoken to multiple sources, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their positions, to piece together the story of a deal which — at £100million (€117.2m; $135.5m) plus £16m of add-ons — has smashed Liverpool's transfer record and could also become the biggest British deal of all time if those extras are realised. Back in November, Wirtz was fresh from winning the Bundesliga and German Cup double, and still focused on Leverkusen and their adventure back in the Champions League. Most of the noise around his future centred on whether he would join rivals Bayern Munich, the club long touted as the playmaker's most likely next destination. Yet the speed with which Liverpool moved to convince Wirtz to join, despite strong interest from other clubs including Manchester City, made the real difference. Liverpool first sought permission from Leverkusen to speak to Wirtz in March. Sporting director Richard Hughes led the process and outlined the ambitious plans for the future to Wirtz and members of his inner circle. When the German international made up his mind, he did so believing that he would be joining a squad who are well equipped to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League in years to come. Advertisement Wirtz told Leverkusen he was leaving in early May and that he was eager to try a new league; shortly after, Bayern knew that he would not be joining them as he favoured a move to Anfield. Real Madrid were also aware of his preference and therefore decided against stepping up their interest with Alonso, who succeeded Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu at the end of the season, focused on strengthening other areas despite his long relationship with Wirtz, a player he greatly admired. For Liverpool, the allure of Wirtz was obvious. A supremely talented player who is not even at the peak of his career — he is still only 22 — he is also versatile. Head coach Arne Slot has discussed using Wirtz as the No 10, but he can also do a job out wide or as a striker, although these would not be his preferred positions. Hughes' task was to get the right deal for Liverpool and within the boundaries set by owners Fenway Sports Group, which has regularly been criticised by a section of Liverpool's support for not flexing its muscles in transfers. That is not entirely fair — Liverpool submitted a £110m bid for Brighton's Moises Caicedo in the summer of 2023, only for the Ecuadorian to choose Chelsea instead, which Anfield executives often cite as proof of the club's readiness to pay top dollar for the right player. That also applies to the fees paid previously for goalkeeper Alisson Becker (£66.8m) and centre-half Virgil van Dijk (£75m), which were world records for players in their positions at the time. But there was also an insistence from the Anfield hierarchy that FSG's self-sustaining business model should not be shredded on a whim — the player had to be worth the money, and Wirtz was deemed exactly that. Hughes held complex but friendly talks with Leverkusen's managing director of sport Simon Rolfes. Those discussions were not quick, hardly unexpected given the size of the sums involved, but they were also amicable. Advertisement As the bulk of the deal — specifically the guaranteed £100m — was agreed early, the negotiations centred primarily on agreeing the add-ons and how much extra would be paid if Wirtz helps Liverpool win the Premier League or Champions League again, and even if he wins the Ballon d'Or. The Athletic reported on June 6 that Liverpool had submitted an improved offer of £113m for Wirtz, following a £109m offer the previous week. Although Liverpool were hoping for a quick resolution, they were also patient. There was no need for the deal to be rushed, given most players do not report back to Kirkby until July 7 and Liverpool's confidence that Wirtz was only interested in joining them. One thing was clear for Hughes: Liverpool had no intention of reaching the €150m valuation Leverkusen had initially placed on Wirtz. By agreeing on the eventual package of £116m, Hughes and Rolfes were able to shake hands and both feel proud of the outcome. Landing a plug-in-and-play talent like Wirtz, who will significantly strengthen the attacking department and help shape the future, is another boost for Liverpool after a successful title-winning season. For Leverkusen, they can point to the highest-ever transfer fee received by a German club should the add-ons be activated. The size of this deal could also break the British transfer record Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo two years ago but only if Wirtz is successful enough at Anfield to trigger all the clauses. Liverpool would be more than happy to pay them, given that would mean their successful start to life under Slot would have continued. Despite the record-breaking figures attached to the deal, Wirtz still fits within the club's existing wage structure and will earn around £10.2m a year with performance-related extras potentially taking it up to £12.8m. Like other deals Liverpool have put together over the years, he will also have the potential to earn more depending on the time he stays at the club. Advertisement Throughout his career, Wirtz and his family have always put the sporting project above simply choosing the best financial package and this attitude was clear again during negotiations with Liverpool. Wirtz was determined for his new club to be the right footballing fit. He had this approach when joining Leverkusen in 2020: having grown weary of FC Koln's habit of regularly changing manager and playing a passive style of football, the prospect of continuing his development under the attack-minded Peter Bosz, then Leverkusen's manager, and at a club with good facilities and strong ambitions was appealing. Slot, too, had a clear plan for Wirtz, who provided 34 goals and 35 assists across his last two seasons and also reflected favourably when the club's data team assessed his history. The Dutchman told him exactly where he would fit in and that was a bigger pull than any financial incentive, especially as the headache of how he would have fitted into the Bayern Munich line-up alongside Jamal Musiala — an issue also widely discussed at international level with Germany — had no obvious cure. Wirtz was keen to be at the centre of his new team, and that will be the case at Anfield. When the agreement was struck, Wirtz was still on holiday after a gruelling season with Leverkusen and then the additional games for Germany in the Nations League semi-final and third-place tie. That the deal was done early into the summer is of significant help to Liverpool's planning around pre-season and also for Wirtz, who has more time to settle into the club before Liverpool's season begins with the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley on the weekend of August 9-10. Wirtz visited the north west of England weeks ago to look at possible living arrangements and was encouraged by the move of his friend, Jeremie Frimpong, who has also moved to Merseyside from Leverkusen in this window. Having a friendly face who has shared multiple experiences, both on and off the pitch, alongside him should make the settling-in process a little easier. Liverpool's player care team will assist and the time already spent at the club's training complex helped convince Wirtz, who has signed a five-year contract, that this would be the perfect next step in his career. Advertisement Wirtz, one of the most coveted playmakers in Europe, is recognised as an addition who can strengthen the team further, not an easy task given the standards set last season. Slot said at the back end of last term that the toughest test this summer would be to find players who are better than those already at the club, yet Liverpool seem to have done that. There was no guarantee they would get their man, so other options that came under consideration included Lyon's Rayan Cherki. Slot even broke off from his summer holiday to travel to the south of France to meet Cherki at the end of May. Ultimately, however, the midfielder joined Manchester City. Liverpool have been quiet in the last three transfer windows, instead preferring to work with the players already available rather than seek alternatives. Combine that with a money-spinning season following the return to the Champions League, the income generated by winning the Premier League (which The Athletic recently calculated was worth around £181m) and a record-breaking performance in the commercial department where revenue has soared, and it is no surprise to see Liverpool getting their house in order early this summer. There is still room for further additions, with a £40m deal agreed to sign left-back Milos Kerkez and possible openings elsewhere if other players are moved on. There is still debate over the possibility of signing a centre-forward, while centre-half is another position which could need strengthening depending on whether Ibrahima Konate signs a new contract. Whatever happens next, though, the record-breaking deal for Wirtz will be the stand-out deal of the summer and one that could help invigorate the frontline for years to come. Additional reporting: David Ornstein