The British & Irish Lions are set to break new ground in 2029 — with a fixture in the USA lined up before their blockbuster tour of New Zealand.

In a move designed to supercharge rugby ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, the Lions are expected to face either the USA Eagles or an invitation XV in Las Vegas.

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🏟️ TWICKENHAM TO HOST OPENER

Before flying stateside, the Lions will kick things off at home — and all signs point to Twickenham.

Why? It’s their turn.

The last three home games have been spread around the nations:

  • 2025: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
  • 2021: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
  • 2005: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

That leaves the Home of Rugby next in line, with France, Argentina or Fiji tipped as potential opposition under the lights in London.

🦁 BRUTAL BUILD-UP IN NEW ZEALAND

Once the US clash is done, the Lions will head south for one of the toughest warm-up schedules in history, taking on every single Super Rugby franchise:

  • Blues
  • Chiefs
  • Crusaders
  • Highlanders
  • Hurricanes

They’ll also go toe-to-toe with the Māori All Blacks, before facing the New Zealand Barbarians in a midweek clash after the first Test — perfect for rotation and keeping intensity high.

Then comes the big one: a three-Test series against the All Blacks.

👔 FARRELL READY FOR MORE?

Despite the Lions’ 22-12 third Test defeat, which denied them a 3-0 sweep, Andy Farrell didn’t sound like a man finished with the Lions.

“Everyone knows what I think about this concept,” said Farrell, reflecting on the Lions’ first series victory since 2013.

“I love everything that the Lions is about and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last eight weeks. There’s always ups and there’s always downs but the inner circle is a special place to be.”

Asked if that meant he would be keen to coach the Lions again, Farrell smiled and told reporters to “read into that what you want”.

In the short term he returns to his role with Ireland, but he paid tribute to the staff and players involved in “an unbelievably special” series win that “will stay with us forever”.

📅 LIKELY 2029 LIONS FIXTURES

  • TBC – vs France, Argentina or Fiji – Twickenham, London
  • TBC – vs USA Eagles / Invitational XV – United States
  • TBC – vs Blues – New Zealand
  • TBC – vs Chiefs – New Zealand
  • TBC – vs Crusaders – New Zealand
  • TBC – vs Highlanders – New Zealand
  • TBC – vs Hurricanes – New Zealand
  • TBC – vs Māori All Blacks – New Zealand
  • TBC – 1st Test vs New Zealand – New Zealand
  • TBC – vs New Zealand Barbarians – New Zealand
  • TBC – 2nd Test vs New Zealand – New Zealand
  • TBC – 3rd Test vs New Zealand – New Zealand

Prediction: the 2029 British & Irish Lions Squad

It’s May 2029, London Irish, Wasps and Worcester Warriors are back battling in a 13-team Premiership, Georgia are celebrating their qualification for the 2030 Six Nations, and the reigning World Champions New Zealand prepare to host the incoming class of British & Irish Lions. But who will make the cut for the trip to Aotearoa… here’s our predictions.

PREDICTION: BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD FOR 2029 TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

HOOKERS

TEST XV: Dan Sheehan (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST SUB: Dewi Lake (Wales & Ospreys)

MID WEEK: Theo Dan (England & Saracens)

Starting off in the hookers depth chart, and we see only one man as the out-right Test starter for the 2029 Lions tour. Dan Sheehan has already captained the British & Irish Lions in their mid-week match against Western Force, as Maro Itoje took a break fresh from arriving in Australia. Sheehan has been tremendous all tour and the Irishman is rightfully staking a claim to be the first name on the team sheet this Summer, never mind in four years time when he really comes into his prime.

We’ve opted for a new era of front rowers to support Sheehan out in New Zealand, with Wales’ Dewi Lake our pick to take the number 16 jersey for the Test series. Lake will be 30 by the time the New Zealand tour rolls around, and would likely be the first choice hooker should 31-year-old Elliot Dee hang up the Test match boots in the coming years. The same can be said about England’s Theo Dan, who looks ready to take the torch from his Saracens mentor Jamie George once the centurion calls it a day at Test level.

Dan looked all but set for a leading role for England’s 2nd Test against Argentina and the standalone fixture against the USA this Summer, as George was whisked away with the Lions following the injury to fellow countryman Luke Cowan-Dickie. However, Dan himself picked up an ankle injury, that has curtailed his Summer tour in dramatic fashion. Dan will be 28-years-old in 2029, with four more years of experience he will be ready for the enormity of the Lions tour.

PROPS

TEST XV: (LOOSE-HEAD): Andrew Porter (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST XV: (TIGHT-HEAD): Will Stuart (England & Bath)

TEST SUB: (LOOSE-HEAD): Asher Opoku-Fordjour (England & Sale Sharks)

TEST SUB (TIGHT-HEAD): Zander Fagerson (Scotland & Glasgow Warriors)

MID WEEK: (LOOSE-HEAD): Fin Baxter (England & Harlequins)

MID WEEK: (TIGHT-HEAD): Kieron Assiratti (Wales & Cardiff)

TRAINING SQUAD: Kemsley Mathias (Wales & Scarlets)

So, a real mix of propping talent from across the British & Irish isles, with each nation represented in our picks for the 2029 front row options. We’ll begin with the Test starters, and we can see a veteran pair of 33-year-olds nailed down for the one and three jerseys in Andrew Porter and Will Stuart. The duo have each emerged as the first-choice props for their respective nations, with Ireland’s legendary loose-head Cian Healy retiring this season, along with England’s grizzled tight-head Dan Cole.

In four years time, Porter and Stuart will be coming towards the tale end of their careers, with plentiful experience backing them to be the first choice pillars of the 2029 Lions scrum. On the bench for the Test series, we can see England’s enigmatic break-out prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour making a name for himself over the next four years, as the Sale man will be 25 when the next tour comes around. Opoku-Fordjour was called up to the Lions training camp after Zander Fagerson withdrew from the squad earlier this Summer due to a devastating injury. We can see both the England and Scotland props heading to New Zealand in four years time.

The baby-faced bruiser Fin Baxter then joins the tour, along with imposing Wales prop Kieron Assiratti. Baxter will be 27 and Assiratti 32 when the Lions jet off to New Zealand, with an array of international experience under their belts by the time they become Lions tourists. We’ve selected another Welsh prop to bolster the training squad, with Kemsley Mathias set to hit his on-field prime ahead of the tour.

LOCKS

TEST XV: (LOCK 4) Maro Itoje (C) (England & Saracens)

TEST XV: (LOCK 5) Joe McCarthy (Ireland & Leinster)

TEST SUB: Ollie Chessum (England & Leicester Tigers)

MID WEEK: George Martin (England & Leicester Tigers)

MID WEEK: Dafydd Jenkins (Wales & Exeter Chiefs)

TRAINING SQUAD: Junior Kpoku (England & Racing 92)

Onto the engine room now, with Maro Itoje our pick to retain the captain’s armband for a second consecutive tour. The lock would take up the Alun Wyn Jones role, as the experienced elder statesman to command his troops through the Test series against the All Blacks. Itoje’s Lions career would then come full circle, as the Saracens stalwart made his touring debut against New Zealand upon the 2017 tour that infamously ended in a drawn series.

Partnering Itoje in the Test match locks would be Ireland’s Joe McCarthy, who looks set to explode upon the Test match stage in the coming months. The 24-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance for Leinster, during their United Rugby Championship winning season, and with Ireland as he now has 19 caps under his belt. McCarthy has already been a stand-out performer in the Lions’ red, with an unrelenting work rate and dominance in contact making him former Lions skipper-turned pundit Sam Warburton’s pick to partner Itoje for the Test series against Australia. The same and more would be expected for NZ ’29.

Taking the number 19 jersey for the 2029 Lions tour in our eyes is Ollie Chessum, given how the England and Leicester Tigers man brings such valuable versatility to the Test stage. Comfortable at both lock and when called upon in the back row, Chessum is a phenomenal operator who will be hitting his prime at 28-years-old when the 2029 tour comes around.

We can also see space for Chessum’s England and Tigers teammate George Martin to make his Lions debut in 2029. Martin’s litany of injuries kept him side-lined for the trip ‘down under’, as he is spending the Summer rehabbing a problematic knee and arduous shoulder issue that hindered his latest season. We also predict a place for former Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins upon the 2029 tour, as the Exeter Chiefs man would be 26-year, and a battle-hardened Welsh stalwart when the Lions selectors come calling.

Rounding off the locks is our ‘bolter’ of a pick, as England U20s lock Junior Kpoku is making waves at such an early stage of his career. Kpoku is currently plying his trade with Racing 92, yet a move to the Premiership would bring him onto the England books and commence his four year run of Test match experience. Currently only 19, Kpoku would be a 23-year-old break-out star upon the 2029 tour.

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO

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