British and Irish Lions to play 3 tests on a 9-match Australian tour in 2025 #British #Irish #Lions #play #tests #9match #Australian #tour

SYDNEY (AP) — The British and Irish Lions will play a combined Australia-New Zealand team in Adelaide in one of nine matches on their 2025 tour of Australia.

The Lions will face the Wallabies in test matches at Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and play all five Australian Super Rugby clubs. And, for the first time since 1989, the Lions will line up against an Anzac XV.

Combining players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the Lions tour either Australia, New Zealand or South Africa every four years. Accompanied by a famously passionate travelling contingent, the Lions remain one of world rugby’s greatest drawcards.

Argentinian players celebrate a try by teammate Juan Martin Gonzalez during the Rugby Championship test match between Australia and Argentina in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

A last-minute try to No. 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez gave Argentina a 34-31 Rugby Championship win over Australia after recalled winger Mark Nawaqanitawase appeared to have given the Wallabies a win with a 95-meter intercept try with five minutes remaining.

South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe runs at New Zealand's Ardie Savea during the Rugby Championship test match between the All Blacks and South Africa at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, July 15, 2023. ( Aaron Gillions/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand has beaten South Africa 35-20 to all but claim the Rugby Championship for the third straight year and disrupt the world champion’s buildup to the World Cup.

New Zealand's All Blacks team wave to fans after winning a rugby championship match against Argentina's Los Pumas at Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza, Argentina, Saturday, July 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera)

After promising starts to the year, the All Blacks and world champion Springboks face a moment of truth in their contest for the Rugby Championship and preparation for the World Cup when they meet Saturday in Auckland.

Argentina's Los Pumas Rodrigo Bruni is tackled by New Zealand's All Blacks Aaron Smith during a rugby championship match at Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza, Argentina, Saturday, July 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Nicolas Aguilera)

Australia and Argentina are coming off nearly identical lopsided losses in the first round of the Rugby Championship.

They beat Australia 2-1 on their last visit to Australia in 2013. The Wallabies won the 2001 series 2-1, two years after winning the World Cup.

“The British and Irish Lions tour is one of the great sporting festivals — it is a real landmark of Australian and world sport,” Rugby Australia chief executive and former Wallaby Phil Waugh said. “Rugby Australia is looking forward to welcoming back the Lions for the first time in 12 years, as well as the tens of thousands of Lions fans from the Northern Hemisphere.”

With Eddie Jones back in charge for his second stint as Wallabies coach, the Australians have lost their first two tests of the 2023 season and will need to build cohesion quickly ahead of the World Cup starting September in France.