Here is everything you need to know ahead of the historic Tour.

Where is the Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series happening?

The British & Irish Lions Women will head to New Zealand for their first-ever Tour.

It will be the 14th time a British & Irish Lions side has toured New Zealand, and the seventh Tour of solely New Zealand.

When is the Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series happening?

The Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series will take place between 4 and 25 of September.

The first Test will take place on 11 September, with the second on 18 September and the third on 25 September.

Which teams are the Lions Women playing?

The British & Irish Lions Women will face New Zealand three times, alongside a number of other sides.

They will start their Tour in New Zealand against a Black Ferns XV and they are set to play an Invitational XV in between the first and second Tests.

The Lions will also face a side before they depart for New Zealand. The identity of this side is yet to be announced.

Which cities are the Lions Women playing in?

The Lions will play in five cities across New Zealand.

They will open their Tour in Whangārei against a Black Ferns XV, in the north of the North Island before travelling to Auckland for the first Test.

They will face an Invitational XV in Hamilton, before the second and third Tests take place in Wellington and Christchurch respectively.

Which players might be selected for the Lions Women?

Players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales can be selected for the Lions.

England are the reigning world champions and have been the dominant force in the Six Nations.

They had seven players in the World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year 2025 but talent is spread across all four nations.

Ireland and Scotland both reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Rugby World Cup, and are ranked fifth and sixth in the world respectively, while Wales are ranked 12th.

Who is the head coach of the Lions Women?

Jo Yapp is the British & Irish Lions Women head coach.

She was appointed in May 2026 following a previous spell in charge of Australia.

Yapp was also formerly in charge of Worcester Warriors Women and was a coach at Exeter University.

As a player, she was twice a runner-up at the Rugby World Cup in 2002 and 2006. She was England captain at the latter.