New Zealand Rugby has revealed plans to host the first women’s British & Irish Lions tour in the next few years, with three Tests against the Black Ferns and up to four midweek games.
Mark Robinson, the NZR chief executive, says talks have taken place during this year’s women’s Rugby World Cup, which is hosted by New Zealand and reaches the semi-final stage this weekend.
“The inaugural women’s Lions tour is now something being considered seriously by the home nations,” Robinson said. No date has been set for the tour, but Robinson confirmed that they were considering a tour “over the next few years” and before the next men’s Lions tour to New Zealand in 2029.
“They are talking about making that possibility real,” he said. “That would take a lot of work, but we’re signalling very strongly that we would like to be the host for that tour, with the possibility of three Test matches and three to four midweek games as well.”
In October last year, a feasibility study was launched by the Lions to see how possible a women’s Lions tour would be. Since then, both Wales and Ireland have announced professional contracts for some players, Scotland have announced that 30 players will turn professional after the World Cup, and fully-professional England have continued their dominance in women’s rugby with a 29-match winning streak.