British and Irish Lions Women to Play Historic First Match Against France in Cardiff
- on Wednesday, October 14, with prices starting from £10 for children and £20 for adults alongside group offers for 10 or more adult tickets, according to lionsrugby.com.
- The British and Irish Lions Women will play their first-ever match against France at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday, August 27, 2027.
- Kick-off for the historic Cardiff clash is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., providing head coach Jo Yapp with her first chance to evaluate the squad on home soil.
Cardiff Set for Historic First Lions Women Outing
Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, with prices starting from £10 for children and £20 for adults alongside group offers for 10 or more adult tickets, according to lionsrugby.com. Supporters purchasing tickets within the first 48 hours will also enter a draw for a hospitality upgrade for two individuals.
The British and Irish Lions Women will play their first-ever match against France at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday, August 27, 2027. Skysports.com reported that the fixture launches the Howden Lions Women’s Cup and serves as the squad’s home send-off before their inaugural tour to New Zealand.
Kick-Off Details and Coaching Test
Kick-off for the historic Cardiff clash is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., providing head coach Jo Yapp with her first chance to evaluate the squad on home soil.
The opening fixture carries significant weight as the program’s debut appearance before touring the southern hemisphere. British and Irish Lions CEO Ben Calveley described the announcement as a monumental moment for the organisation, noting that Principality Stadium provides a fitting stage due to its rich rugby heritage.
Building Toward the Black Ferns Challenge
Head coach Jo Yapp emphasized the unique nature of the fixture, pointing to the caliber of the opposition as vital preparation. There are moments in sport that only come around once – and this is one of them,
Yapp said, according to lionsrugby.com. France are the ideal team for an occasion like this. They bring a relentless defence and a real edge in attack. That’s exactly the challenge that we need before heading to New Zealand.
Welsh Rugby Union CEO Abi Tierney also highlighted the broader impact of the event for the development of the women’s game. Tierney stated that welcoming the inaugural team to Cardiff is a proud achievement for the venue and women’s sport as a whole, as reported by ruck.co.uk.
The Road to New Zealand
Following the Cardiff match, the squad travels to New Zealand for the inaugural Howden British and Irish Lions Women’s Series. The tour opens on Saturday, September 4, 2027, when the Lions face a Black Ferns XV at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei.
The schedule features three Test matches alongside provincial fixtures across the country. The complete tour lineup includes:
- Saturday, August 27, 2027: Lions Women v France at Principality Stadium, Cardiff (7:30 p.m. kick-off)
- Saturday, September 4, 2027: Black Ferns XV v Lions Women at Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
- Saturday, September 11, 2027: New Zealand v Lions Women (First Test) at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
- Tuesday, September 14, 2027: Invitational XV v Lions Women at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
- Saturday, September 18, 2027: New Zealand v Lions Women (Second Test) in Wellington
- Saturday, September 25, 2027: New Zealand v Lions Women (Third Test) at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Final Assessment on Home Turf
Ruck.co.uk noted that the August fixture in Cardiff gives Yapp one final opportunity to assess her players before they face the world champion Black Ferns in September.