Lions women confirm France in Cardiff as first-ever fixture

The British and Irish Lions women's team will make its debut against France at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 27 August 2027, BBC Sport reported. The newly announced fixture will kick off at 19:30 BST and take place before the side travels to New Zealand for its inaugural tour, giving the team its first appearance in front of a home crowd.

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Head coach Jo Yapp will lead a squad bringing together players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Yapp described the opportunity to play the team's first match at home as a special moment for both the players and their supporters. The women's programme adds a new chapter to a Lions tradition whose men's tours began in 1888.

France are ranked fourth in the world and reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Women's World Cup. They have also finished second to England in each of the past seven Six Nations championships. Their recent results include home wins over Australia and Canada in September's WXV Global Series, providing a substantial challenge for a Lions side assembling players from four national systems.

Carol Isherwood, chair of the Lions women's committee, said organisers had considered several locations, including options abroad, before choosing Cardiff. According to the BBC report, the Welsh Rugby Union made the case for hosting the match, with the stadium, local support and Wales' history in the women's game among the factors. Isherwood said the occasion could help establish a lasting women's Lions programme and encourage future players.

Principality Stadium previously hosted a crowd of 21,186 for Wales' Six Nations defeat by England in 2025, a record for a Welsh women's home match in any sport. The Cardiff fixture will be only the second meeting between a Lions team and France: the men won a friendly in Paris in 1989.

The five-match New Zealand itinerary begins against a Black Ferns XV in Whangarei on 4 September. The first Test follows in Auckland on 11 September, with an Invitational XV match in Hamilton on 14 September. Tests in Wellington on 18 September and Christchurch on 25 September complete the schedule. The France match is separate from those five tour fixtures.