British & Irish Lions Play Australia-New Zealand Invitational in Adelaide July 12

The British & Irish Lions tour in Australia in 2025 is set to include a mid-tour match in Adelaide on 12 July, when the Lions will play an Australia and New Zealand invitational side at Adelaide Oval.

“England's attempt to rebuild from the rubble of the Ashes is about to begin”

BBC

The second test against the Wallabies is scheduled for 26 July at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which has a capacity of 100,000 seats, and the match could become a new Lions crowd record if it sells out.

BBC

The tour’s head coach is expected to be Andy Farrell, with the article saying he should succeed Warren Gatlan after the latter “lost 2-1 the series” on the last tour in South Africa in 2021.

The schedule lists nine total matches, including Lions v Western Force at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday 28 June and Lions v Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday 2 July.

The same piece says the Lions have an agreement with the English Premiership and the URC to release players two weeks before the departure to prepare for the tour, a period described as never granted in the past.

France head coach Fabien Galthié announced an initial list of 28 players for a summer tour to New Zealand, including 13 players with no international caps, with the group to be reinforced depending on Top 14 results.

The article says the Blues’ first list would be completed on Sunday, June 22 by players from clubs eliminated in the Top 14 semifinals, ahead of the first test match on July 5 at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Benetton Rugby

Among the uncapped players listed are Tyler Duguid, Baptiste Erdocio, Alexandre Fischer, Paul Mallez, Guillaume Marchand, Régis Montagne, Jacobus Van Tonder, Théo William, Léo Berdeu, Thibault Daubagna, Alivereti Duguivalu, Théo Millet and Maël Moustin.

The same source also notes that the Blues’ tour schedule includes a second test on July 12 at Sky Stadium in Wellington and a third test on July 19 at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.

In the squad, the article highlights experienced names such as Rabah Slimani, Romain Taofifenua and Cameron Woki, while also listing Gaël Fickou and Nolann Le Garrec among those included in the first group.

England’s attempt to rebuild from the Ashes is due to begin with a squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June, with players gathering for a camp in Loughborough on 25 May.

“Venerdì a Dublino l’antipasto con l’Argentina, poi la partenza”

La Gazzetta dello Sport

The BBC frames the selection as decisions over an opening pair, a spinner and pace bowlers, noting that Zak Crawley has had 104 innings and averaged less than 30.52 in Test history.

The article says Ben Duckett also had a disappointing Ashes, while new faces include Somerset’s James Rew, Glamorgan’s Asa Tribe, and the Durham pair of Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay.

For spin, the BBC describes the battle for England’s number one spinner as “wide open,” with Jack Leach described as probably the most reliable spinner and Mason Crane bowling well for Glamorgan.

In the County Championship report, Ben Duckett hit an unbeaten double century with 203 runs off 311 deliveries, and Nottinghamshire increased their lead at the top of the first division after a draw to Surrey at Trent Bridge.