All players selected for the 2025 British and Irish Lions to Australia will be available for the whole tour thanks to a new partnership with Premiership Rugby and the United Rugby Championship.
Players involved in knock-out stages of club competitions have missed the start of recent tours but they will now able able to take part in all pre-tour activities.
Several players from England were unavailable in 2021 when a warm-up Test against Japan clashed with the Premiership final, which took place on the same day the tour began.
Lions chair Ieuan Evans said: “Australia in 2025 represents a significant opportunity to claim our first Lions series win since 2013 and as with any Lions tour, it will be difficult. To achieve our ambition of success on the pitch, we need our very best players, and this partnership is crucial to this.”
Since that series win in Australia in 2013, the Lions drew 1-1 with New Zealand in 2017 and lost 2-1 to South Africa in 2021.
Premiership Rugby CEO Simon Massie-Taylor said: “Everyone at Premiership Rugby understands how crucial it is to work closely with all stakeholders for the game to continue to thrive and grow. And giving our players and the British & Irish Lions the best possible preparation time in history is vital for both the Lions and Premiership Rugby as we support each other on and off the pitch.”
URC CEO Martin Anayi added: “Throughout the professional era our league has been home to an extraordinary number of British & Irish Lions and we are always proud to give our players the best chance of pulling on that famous red jersey. Our league has always supported the Lions and their touring schedule because their continued success will help grow interest in our sport.”
