Behind the scenes in Perthpublished at 11:35 1 July
11:35 1 July
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Genge was one of 14 players making their Lions debut in the tour opener against Argentina
Competition isn't confined to pitch for the British and Irish Lions.
The latest episode of The Ultimate Test - the team's in-house behind-the-scenes documentary, external - features an entertaining basketball duel between Ireland team-mates James Lowe and Bundee Aki and a forwards v backs head tennis epic.
Also look out for the blossoming bromance between props Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham. Bealham is pushing to turn the pair into podcast co-hosts. Genge still needs some convicing.
We dive into loads of interesting topics before the British and Irish Lions face Queensland Reds on Wednesday.
How big a blow is Tomos Williams' injury? And with so few nailed-on starters for the first Test, should alarm bells be ringing?
Plus, Tom explains why the infamous "99" call from the 1974 South Africa tour might be more myth than reality.
Laumape joins Aus/NZ combined side to face Lionspublished at 10:46 1 July
10:46 1 July
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Image caption,
Laumape will play for Moana Pasifika in the 2026 and 2027 Super Rugby seasons
All Blacks centre Ngani Laumape, who started the third Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2017, has been named in the combined Australia and New Zealand squad to face the Lions.
The 32-year-old scored the opening try in the third Test against the Lions in 2017 after making his All Blacks debut in their second Test defeat in Wellington.
Laumape earned his call-up to the Test series after impressing for the Hurricanes in a thrilling warm-up match against the Lions, which ended 31-31.
The hard-running centre, who has been playing for Japanese side Kobelco Steelers, won the last of his 15 caps in 2020.
Laumape has opted to play his rugby outside of New Zealand since 2021, but will join Auckland-based Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Highly rated Blues prop Josh Fusitua has also been added to the combined Australia and New Zealand squad.
Organisers of the fixture, to be staged at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, 12 July, have failed with approaches to New Zealand fly-half Richie Mo'unga and former Australia captain Michael Hooper.
In other news, Wallabies wing Andrew Kellaway has been released back to the NSW Waratahs for their game against the Lions on Saturday, with Corey Toole returning to the ACT Brumbies.
Wider training members Tane Edmed, David Feliuai, Lington Ieli, Ryan Lonergan and Rory Scott have also returned to their Super Rugby clubs.
Last week Australia head coach Joe Schmidt rejected claims from the Lions that he must release all of his biggest stars to their clubs side, saying it would be a "counter-productive" move.
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Andrew Kellaway started against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in November, scoring against Steve Borthwick's side
From the Olympics to the Lions - Keenan ready to make historypublished at 06:44 1 July
06:44 1 July
Nigel Ringland BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Brisbane
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Image caption,
Hugo Keenan will make his first start for the Lions on Wednesday
Twelve months ago, Hugo Keenan was preparing for the Paris Olympics as a member of the Ireland Rugby 7s squad.
Now he’s ready to stake his claim for a British and Irish Lions test place and in doing so is creating a little bit of history.
When the Ireland full-back steps onto the pitch to face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, he will become the first Irish player to represent his country at the Olympics and the Lions.
“I wouldn't compare one to the other. What comparison I would make is that when you come into a new squad it was deja vu to that nearly butterfly feeling in your stomach of the nerves of meeting guys you hadn't known before,” explained Keenan.
”It was similar in the Sevens squad. I knew maybe 50% of the lads in the squad and had close bonds with them similar to the Lions where you know all your country teammates and you've come across a few others along the way.
“But then there's also new lads here you need to get to know and build up those connections and I'm definitely taking some of the learnings I have from going off to a new team, a new squad, a new sport in one sense in the case of the Sevens and trying to bring it into the Lions.
“I've been lucky to have been a part of that Olympic journey and I'm lucky to be here today on this Lions journey. Just feeling very privileged.”
The Ireland full-back has been sidelined with a calf injury that caused him to miss Leinster’s end-of-season win in the United Rugby Championship and has led to a frustrating beginning to his Lions tour.
In his absence and that of Blair Kinghorn, who arrives in Brisbane on Monday evening following Toulouse’s win in the Top 14, the battle for the full-back shirt in the Test matches is wide open after England’s Elliot Daly stepped up against the Western Force by scoring two tries and putting in an impressive performance.
“It's been a frustrating couple of weeks missing out on the final with Leinster and then maybe not being able to participate as much at the start of this tour as I would have liked.
“But I'm excited now to put on the red jersey and looking forward to it. Thankfully the tour was never really in doubt and we were always targeting the Reds game, so thankfully it's been pretty smooth sailing.”
Waratahs' McCaffrey prepares for reunionspublished at 11:11 30 June
11:11 30 June
Image source, Rex Features
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Genge and McCaffrey celebrate Leicester's Anglo-Welsh Cup final win over Exeter in March 2017
NSW Waratahs defence coach Lachlan McCaffrey is readying himself for reunions when the British and Irish Lions roll into Sydney this weekend.
McCaffrey, who scored a try for Western Force against the Lions in 2013, moved to Leicester Tigers two years later and shared a house with an up-and-coming Ellis Genge.
McCaffrey might have to find a bit more space in his wardrobe though because he also knows Lions wing Mack Hansen well.
"I used to sit next to him in the team at the Brumbies. We shared a lot of good times together," McCaffrey added.
"I'm excited to see Mack and 'Gengey' and hopefully we don't give them too much time with the ball and too much space."
The Waratahs will have Taniela Tupou's ballast after the prop was released from the Wallabies camp for the fixture.
Tupou and Genge have their own history. When England toured Australia in 2022, Tupou said that he would be trying to "smash" Genge, admittedly adding that he was sure the intent was mutual.
"Good for him. Get in line," said Genge in response.
England won that series 2-1.
Image source, Getty
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Genge was in rampaging form as England fought back from the loss of the opening Test to win a series in Australia in 2022
Kinghorn en route and on a highpublished at 10:36 30 June
10:36 30 June
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Kinghorn (centre) celebrates with Toulouse team-mates Thibaud Flament (left) and Jack Willis (right)
Kinghorn apparently rearranged his flight, originally scheduled to leave Paris for Australia on Sunday morning, for a few hours later, to ensure that those quiet beers weren't rushed at all.
Toulouse's celebrations of their third straight title, after losing to Bordeaux-Begles three times earlier in the season, certainly looked like they were worth sticking around for.
Jack Willis, who is outside of England eligibility in the south of France, had another big game on the big stage, scoring two tries at the Stade de France.
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Kinghorn is the only other regular full-back in the Lions squad alongside Hugo Keenan with the versatile Marcus Smith and Elliot Daly also covering 15
All Black Frizell among first names for Aus/NZ combined sidepublished at 10:14 30 June
10:14 30 June
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Image caption,
Frizell's All Black career has been on hold while he plays in Japan
Flanker Shannon Frizell, who started the 2023 Rugby World Cup final for the All Blacks, is one of the first four players named to take part in Lions' final pre-Test series match against a combined Australia and New Zealand side.
Frizell, who now plays for Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan, is joined fellow All Blacks David Havili, Shaun Stevenson and Folau Fakatava.
Organisers of the fixture, to be staged at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday 12 July, have failed with approaches to All Black fly-half Richie Mo'unga, who is out with a hand injury suffered on club duty in Japan, and retired Wallaby great Michael Hooper, who has said he would struggle to get back to the level required to do himself justice.
"There is plenty of excitement about this fixture, and that's been demonstrated by the number of quality international players eager to be involved," said Rugby Australia's Director of High Performance, Peter Horne.
"We are delighted with the quality of the New Zealand contingent announced today and look forward to naming more players as the squad comes together."
The Lions beat an Anzac XV in the final match of their 1989 tour Down Under, with All Blacks Frano Botica, Kieran Crowley and Steve McDowall playing in a mostly Australian side.
Image source, Rex Features
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The British and Irish Lions won the 1989 Test series 2-1 against Australia
Lowe hits back at stadium announcer's trollingpublished at 10:44 29 June
10:44 29 June
Lauren Jenkins BBC Sport at Optus Stadium, Perth
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Image caption,
Lions winger James Lowe moved to Ireland from New Zealand to play for Leinster in 2017 and became eligible to play for Ireland in 2020
The Perth stadium announcer tried his best to troll the British and Irish Lions before their 54-7 victory over Western Force, by singling out the tourists who were born in the southern hemisphere.
The issue has been a big talking point in the tour build-up after Australia head coach Joe Schmidt highlighted the ancestry of some of the Lions squad.
"Our former Aussie at No 14, Mack Hansen," the announcer declared on Saturday in front of a record Force crowd of more than 46,000.
''Another Aussie at No 12, Sione Tuipulotu. At No 11, the Kiwi now Irishman James Lowe, and at prop, the former SA schoolboy now Scotsman, Pierre Schoeman."
Not that it had much of an effect on Ireland's New Zealand-born winger Lowe, who started for the Maori All Blacks against the Lions in 2017.
''Hopefully a few more Kiwis or Saffas play next week and we can keep the same gag going if we keep on getting the same result," the 32-year-old told BBC Sport.
"I've been slagged my whole life, my whole career, it doesn't matter where I go I seem to get slagged so they can say what they want.''
Schmidt apologised and said he was "sloppy" and meant no harm when he called the Lions midfield duo Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu the "southern hemisphere centre partnership".
He was then accused of mind games and pot-stirring by Lions head of performance David Nucifora.
Scotland captain Tuipulotu, who was born in Australia, also brushed aside the trolling, adding: "I knew there would be some 'good humour' coming back home to Australia. These are all things we've got to take in our stride," he said.
"To not announce the elephant in the room, I am from Australia. I was born here. I don't know how funny that gag is to everyone."
'Hungrier for a Test spot'
Having reached and won the URC final, Leinster wing Lowe had to wait a week before his first taste of Lions action.
While he has plenty of credit in the bank with Irish coaches having been picked 40 times for his country, Lions tours are all about taking your opportunity, something Lowe felt he grasped with both hands against the Force, finishing the match with two assists and three clean breaks.
''I knew I'd get a chance to put in a performance and personally I was very happy with how I went," Lowe adds. "I still remember sitting at home with my wife when your name comes up on the TV. To actually be here, feet on the ground in Australia and given the opportunity is a massive privilege.
''The amazing thing about this tour is these games make you hungrier for a Test spot. I'm competing with some world-class wingers in their own right so you've got to put your best forward.
"Obviously we can get better and we will get better over time but it's already something I'll be very proud of for the rest of my days.''
Lowe is one of 12 Leinster players in Australia, the most from any club in a single Lions series.
"We're in a lucky situation where we know so many of our own boys," he adds.
"We understand each other even if we get calls wrong. If you've got Leinster boys beside you, we know what we're doing. Though we did have a Scottish 10, 12, 13 in the second half so it's nice to watch their defensive system and the tendencies they have when they're on the run.''
What would you give the Lions out of 10?published at 20:48 28 June
20:48 28 June
Chris Jones Rugby Union Correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
The latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast is out on BBC Sounds and all the usual podcast places as we react to the Lions' win over Western Force.
What would you give the Lions out of 10? What team will we see against the Queensland Reds on Wednesday? And are the Lions trying to play more attacking rugby compared to what we've seen on previous tours?
Have a listen to hear the thoughts of 2009 Lion Ugo Monye, as we debate all those questions.
In pictures: British and Irish Lions in eight-try win over Western Forcepublished at 19:29 28 June
19:29 28 June
BBC Sport and Inpho present a selection of some of the best images from the British and Irish Lions' victory over Western Force at Optus Stadium, Perth
Image source, Inpho
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Tomos Williams scores the fourth try for the British and Irish Lions
Image source, Inpho
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Hamish Stewart competes for the ball in the air with Garry Ringrose of the British and Irish Lions
Image source, Inpho
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British and Irish Lions Josh van der Flier attempts to block a Nic White box kick
Image source, Inpho
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Tomos Williams leaves the pitch injured
Image source, Inpho
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Lions' Henry Pollock during his period in the sin bin
Image source, Inpho
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The Lions team huddle in the dressing room at half-time
Image source, Inpho
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Dan Sheehan celebrates scoring a try with Henry Pollock
Image source, Getty Images
