‘Wearable art’ with a QR code: British & Irish Lions hype up 2025 tour jersey | British and Irish Lions

Rarely in the history of sports kit has more breathless hype surrounded the launch of a humble rugby jersey. “A masterpiece” and “a wearable piece of art” were among the tributes paid to the jersey the players will wear on next year’s men’s British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, which admittedly looks a little different to its predecessors.

In a “seamless tapestry”, the emblems of all four home nations have been woven into the fabric, and there is even a tag on the garment which, if scanned, allows supporters to use an app containing additional rugby-related digital content.

Described as a “cool but classic look”, the design also incorporates “a grandpa collar” and is a slightly deeper shade of red, as well as being slightly easier for bulkier forwards to remove than some skin-tight jerseys have been in the past, with the previous Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe, who recalled that it once took four players to praise the shirt on the back of their former Ireland teammate Mike Ross.

Although they are now familiar with the jersey they will wear, the 2025 Lions are still not quite sure of the identity of each team they will play. Following the demise of the Melbourne Rebels, there is still no definite confirmation of the opposition Andy Farrell’s touring side will face in their scheduled match in Melbourne on July 22, four days before the second Test in the same city.

However, Ieuan Evans, the Lions chairman, has stressed that he expects the Wallabies to provide a sterner challenge in the three-Test series than some currently imagine. “I fully expect significant improvement under Joe Schmidt,” Evans said. “They are a proud sporting and rugby nation and it has been 12 years since they last met the Lions. Their focus will be on producing a formidable team to face us in the Test series. I fully expect them to be in a strong position on the tour.”