The Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series will take place in New Zealand, the home of the current world champions with the Lions Women’s team playing three Tests against the Black Ferns alongside pre-Test fixtures. Further details associated with the Tour are set to be announced in due course.
Lions Women
First-ever Lions Women’s Tour confirmed
Lions Women’s Principal Partners
Howden – Series Title Partner
Royal London – Founding Partner and Front of Jersey Sponsor for the Official Lions Women’s Team Jersey
Royal London will also oversee player and coach development through an elite players’ and coaches Pathways Funding grant which will support the elite women’s player and coach pathways in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England.
Feasibility Study
A feasibility study funded by Lions Founding Partner Royal London investigated all key aspects of creating a Lions Women’s Tour with a consultation process exploring brand, commercial, financial, spectator, logistical, and scheduling considerations. After a three-part process with positive findings, including that the Tour was projected to be commercially sustainable for all stakeholders, the Lions Women Inaugural 2027 tour was announced.
The feasibility study also concluded that the optimum time for the Tour is 2027 and it was then followed by a Tour host selection process with New Zealand emerging as the preferred Tour destination.
Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award
Founding Partner of the Lions Women’s Team, Royal London, have created the Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award which celebrates outstanding initiatives by grassroots clubs to support women’s rugby in their local community.
Each year, one club from each Home Union will be rewarded with a special trophy, plus a £10,000 grant to further invest in their women and girls’ programmes.
The successful clubs will have demonstrated they’re committed to growing women’s participation and representation within all aspects of the club. This includes community outreach, access to playing, equality across the club, celebration of women’s success, progression of players and coaches and staff and leadership at all levels.