British & Irish Lions: The women’s team will not play New Zealand at Eden Park

The British and Irish Lions will not play at Eden Park, the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby and the country’s largest stadium, in a historic first women’s tour.

While the venues for the three-Test series against the Black Ferns in September 2027 have yet to be announced, Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner has announced he is missing.

“I’m very disappointed it won’t be played at our national stadium,” he told an Auckland Council meeting.

Instead, the Lions will play New Zealand at the city’s Go Media Stadium, which has about half the capacity of the 25,000-seat Eden Park.

Eden Park hosted the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final in 2022, when a record 42,579 fans watched New Zealand beat England 34-31. It also organized the first and third Tests when the Lions men’s team toured New Zealand in 2017.

However, the home crowds attending Black Ferns matches since they lifted the world title have been much smaller, usually less than 10,000 fans.

“The offer at Eden Park was not strong enough or convincing enough,” New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said., external

“We’re excited about what we can release and we can’t talk about it yet. Playing the inaugural Lions Women’s Series will be a step apart, no matter where the venues are.”

While traveling fans traditionally follow the Lions to the southern hemisphere, it is unknown how many will make the trip to follow the women’s team.

The chain’s competitive balance is also a potential concern.

After winning six of the previous seven tournaments, New Zealand failed to reach the final of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, losing to Canada in the semi-finals.

World champions England, who top the world rankings, have won the past seven Six Nations titles and have beaten New Zealand in their past three meetings, including a 33-12 win at GO Media Stadium two years ago.

The Lions’ sponsors have funded support for player development and coaches in Wales, Scotland and Ireland to help ensure the team is represented from all four nations.