Eddie Jones secures role for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour

Tuesday, 06 May 2025 at 19:42

byRugby Rucker

Eddie Jones is back – but this time, he’s swapping the coaching box for the commentary booth.

The former England and Australia boss has been snapped up by talkSPORT as part of their star-studded team for exclusive radio coverage of the British & Irish Lions' summer tour to Australia.

Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia

From pitchside to pitch-perfect punditry

Jones will bring his unrivalled insight Down Under as Andy Farrell’s Lions face off against Joe Schmidt’s rejuvenated Wallabies.

The hotly-anticipated Lions squad is set to be unveiled on Thursday, May 8 – and talkSPORT will be live from the O2, bringing fans all the breaking news, interviews and instant reaction.

Been there, done that

A man who knows both sides of the Lions rivalry, Jones spent seven rollercoaster years in charge of England, winning three Six Nations titles – including a Grand Slam in 2016 – and guiding them to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.

He's now in his second stint with Japan after a brief return to coach the Wallabies in 2023.

Lions slayer

Jones also boasts a rare Lions scalp, with his Australia A side edging out the tourists 28-25 back in 2001 – one of only two defeats for the Lions on that tour.

Every tackle, every try, every moment

talkSPORT will be at the heart of the action from June 28 to August 2, 2025, covering all nine matches, including the three epic Tests – and Eddie Jones will be right there, calling it all.

Expect fireworks. Expect insight. Expect Eddie.

Kick off times confirmed for epic 2025 Lions tour – here’s how to watch every game

Get ready, rugby fans. The full schedule for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour has officially dropped—and it’s shaping up to be a blockbuster.

? Where to watch?

UK fans can catch all the action live and exclusive on Sky Sports, who return as the official broadcaster of the Lions Tour. Expect wall-to-wall coverage, expert punditry, and every bone-crunching hit as it happens.

? The 2025 British & Irish Lions Schedule:

? Lions 1888 Cup

?? Argentina vs British & Irish Lions
? Aviva Stadium, Dublin
?️ Friday, 20 June 2025
? KO: 20:00 BST
The tour kicks off in style with a one-off clash against Los Pumas on Irish soil.

✈️ Qatar Airways Lions Tour Begins Down Under

?? Western Force vs Lions

? Optus Stadium, Perth
?️ Saturday, 28 June 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

❤️ Queensland Reds vs Lions

? Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
?️ Wednesday, 2 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

? NSW Waratahs vs Lions

? Allianz Stadium, Sydney
?️ Saturday, 5 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

? ACT Brumbies vs Lions

? GIO Stadium, Canberra
?️ Wednesday, 9 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

? The Mid-Tour Blockbusters

? Australia & New Zealand Invitational XV vs Lions

? Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
?️ Saturday, 12 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST
A fresh addition, this composite side will bring flair and firepower.

? THE TEST SERIES

?? 1st Test: Wallabies vs Lions

? Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
?️ Saturday, 19 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

? First Nations & Pasifika XV vs Lions

? Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
?️ Tuesday, 22 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST
An historic first—this fixture celebrates Indigenous and Pasifika rugby culture.

?? 2nd Test: Wallabies vs Lions

? Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
?️ Saturday, 26 July 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

?? 3rd Test: Wallabies vs Lions

? Accor Stadium, Sydney
?️ Saturday, 2 August 2025
? KO: 11:00 BST

Players who flopped in their final Lions audition

With the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals serving as the last big shop window before Andy Farrell starts sketching out his British & Irish Lions depth chart, a few hopefuls picked the worst possible time to go missing in action. Here are five contenders who flopped when it mattered most…

Sam Prendergast (Leinster/Ireland) – Lamb to the slaughter

Hailed by many as the next big thing in Irish rugby, Prendergast’s audition for Gatland turned into a horror show. Within eight minutes, he’d been caught napping for a turnover and then served up a gift-wrapped try for Northampton with a poor kick.

The Saints back row swarmed him all game, and while he did land a beauty of a pass to send Tommy O’Brien over, he was then embarrassingly burned on the outside by teenager Henry Pollock. Missed vital kicks too — including one that could’ve tied the game in the dying minutes. Harsh lesson on the big stage.

Hugo Keenan (Leinster/Ireland) – Mr. Reliable unravels

Normally so dependable at the back, Keenan chose the worst time to have a rare off-day. While he showed flashes going forward, it was his defence that let him down.

His fumble under a high ball handed Tommy Freeman a third try on a silver platter. For a man pencilled in for a Lions shirt, this was an uncharacteristic — and untimely — dip.

Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland) – Big man, big letdown

The hype train around McCarthy has been building all season, but he failed to get out of first gear here.

He lacked his usual bite in the contact area and was far too passive in defence, slipping off tackles and looking off the pace. If he wanted to throw his name into the Lions mix, this did the opposite.

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh/Scotland) – Starved and stifled

Always electric, always dangerous — but this just wasn’t his day. Graham was constantly hunting for work but saw precious little quality ball.

His defensive work was solid, notably a try-saving tackle on Will Muir, but this was billed as a chance to dazzle. Sadly, he never got the chance to ignite.

Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh/Scotland) – Fire without the fury

No shortage of aggression from the Edinburgh skipper — he was in the thick of multiple scraps, including a meaty confrontation with Sam Underhill.

But fire alone won’t get you a Lions jersey. Ritchie couldn’t influence the breakdown battle and never truly stamped his authority on the contest. For someone once seen as a frontrunner, his stock is sliding.

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