Women’s Lions to face France in Cardiff ahead of inaugural tour

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The British and Irish Lions will face France rugby in Cardiff in their first fixture ahead of the inaugural women’s tour to New Zealand.

The Principality Stadium will host a landmark encounter on Friday 27 August before Jo Yapp’s touring party departs ahead of three Tests with the Black Ferns in September.

The venue last hosted a Lions game in 2005, when Clive Woodward’s men drew with Argentina ahead of their own trip to New Zealand. Dublin and Edinburgh have hosted pre-tour fixtures ahead of the last two men’s tours, while negotiations are thought to have been held over a possible game against France ahead of their trip in two years time.

A curtain-raiser against France, perennially the second strongest team in the Women’s Six Nations, will provide a good test of the squad assembled by Yapp, who was unveiled as the first women’s Lions head coach in May.

“There are moments in sport that only come around once – and this is one of them,” Yapp said. “For our British & Irish Lions Women’s team to step onto the field for the first time, on home soil and in front of our fans, is going to be incredibly special.

“France are the ideal team for an occasion like this. They bring a relentless defence and a real edge in attack. That’s exactly the challenge that we need before heading to New Zealand.”I’d love to see everyone get behind the squad and share this milestone with us. It will be a moment in history.”

France have pushed England close consistently over the last few years, although have not beaten John Mitchell’s Red Roses since 2018.

Yapp’s Lions selection is expected to be confirmed soon after the conclusion of next year’s Women’s Six Nations in mid-May. The head coach is also thought to be keen to assemble her coaching staff in good time ahead of the tour.

Meg Jones, England’s Cardiff-born captain, is a strong contender to be appointed skipper of the side.