The British and Irish Lions play host to Argentina this week ahead of their tour to Australia.
The traditional curtain-raiser is taking place in Dublin and will see the 1888 Cup on the line for only the second time, with the Lions having won it four years ago by beating Japan at Murrayfield ahead of the trip to South Africa in a game that saw captain Alun Wyn Jones suffer a dislocated shoulder that ruled him out for the summer.
Andy Farrell will be desperate to avoid any such setbacks in a historic date with the Pumas, with England’s Maro Itoje set to lead the Lions for the first time after being announced as captain prior to the squad announcement last month.
After a training camp in Portugal, the Lions will be keen to warm up for their tour Down Under with a statement victory over tough opponents, with their first game in Australia coming up against the Western Force of Super Rugby in Perth next weekend.
They have six warm-up matches on a busy six-week schedule in total against a mix of Super Rugby and invitational opposition, with three Tests then coming up against Joe Schmidt’s improved Wallabies.
Argentina will be hoping to spoil the farewell party, having pushed Farrell’s Ireland hard during last year’s autumn international series and put 50 points on Italy as well as beating France in the summer during a 2024 in which they finished third above Australia in the Rugby Championship.
This game serves as part of their warm-up for the 2025 edition of the premier southern hemisphere competition, with an England team weakened by Lions call-ups also heading their way for a two-Test tour in July.
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina date, kick-off time and venue
The British and Irish Lions take on Argentina on Friday June 20, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.
The match will take place at the Aviva Stadium, the first time the Lions have ever played a fixture in Dublin. It’s not yet sold out, with high ticket prices a major talking point in the build-up.
How to watch British and Irish Lions vs Argentina
TV channel: In the UK, the game is being broadcast live via Sky Sports. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action at 7pm BST.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch live online via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: Follow the action as it happens with Standard Sport’s live match blog.
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina team news
The Lions were dealt an injury blow last week when Scotland prop Zander Fagerson was ruled out of the entire tour with a calf injury as Ireland’s Finlay Bealham was drafted in as his replacement.
It added to growing issues for Farrell at tighthead, with questions continuing to surround Tadhg Furlong’s fitness.
England’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour has been training with the Lions, along with hooker Jamie George and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, who was called up after Leicester’s Premiership final defeat by Bath at Twickenham as cover for Jamison Gibson-Park, who withdrew from the Leinster team that beat the Bulls in the URC Grand Final later the same day. Full-back Hugo Keenan is also dealing with a calf issue.
There is no Blair Kinghorn, the only France-based player in the Lions squad who will join up late with Toulouse aiming for Top 14 glory this month.
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina lineups
Confirmed British and Irish Lions lineup: Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell, Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (c), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen
Confirmed Argentina line up: Carreras, Isgro, Cinti, Piccardo, Mendy, Albornoz, Garcia, Vivas, Montoya (c), Sclavi, Molina, Rubiolo, Matera, Gonzalez, Oviedo
Replacements: Bernasconi, Wenger, Coria Marchetti, Grondona. S, Moro, Benitez Cruz, Moroni, Cordero
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina head to head (h2h) history and results
The Lions twice visited Argentina all the way back in 1927 and 1936, with all six matches won by the tourists.
The sides last met in 2005, when Jonny Wilkinson’s late penalty rescued a 25-25 draw for Clive Woodward’s disappointing Lions against a depleted Pumas team in Cardiff ahead of a miserable tour to New Zealand in which they lost every Test.
Lions wins: 6
Argentina wins: 0
Draws: 1
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina prediction
The Lions are hardly likely to be firing on all cylinders for their first game of the summer, with so many moving parts still and a number of key players to be properly integrated into the fold after last weekend’s domestic club finals.
However, they will still be looking to send a clear early message to the Wallabies with a confident win in Dublin and have more than enough firepower to get the job done.
But underestimate Argentina at your peril - the Pumas are always a granite-tough match-up regardless of the circumstance and will be itching to make it a damp squib of a send-off as they warm up for England.
The biggest hope for Farrell will be no major injuries after Alun Wyn Jones’ tour-ending setback in the previous 1888 Cup fixture against Japan ahead of the trip to South Africa in 2021.
Lions to win, by at least 10 points.
British and Irish Lions vs Argentina match odds
Lions to win: 1/16
Argentina to win: 9/1
Draw: 35/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
