The city’s hotels, restaurants and pubs are preparing for an estimated 15,000 interstate and international rugby fans to converge on Adelaide next month to witness one of the most famous sporting teams in the world play.
The British & Irish Lions will take on a combined Australian and New Zealand team at Adelaide Oval on Saturday 12 July, with fans being urged to secure their tickets, accommodation and hospitality reservations for the game.
Latest forward data for hotel occupancy across metropolitan Adelaide for 11-12 July is at 73 and 80 per cent respectively, which is up from 37 and 39 per cent at the same time last year.
The AUNZ Invitational XV is the first to feature stars from both Australia and New Zealand since 1989 and will be led by Queensland and incoming Wallabies Head Coach Les Kiss.
The British & Irish Lions combines the best rugby players from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The players tour Australia every 12 years but have not played in Adelaide since 1888.
The marquee match-up against Australia and New Zealand will be the final tour game before the Lions’ three-test series against the Wallabies beginning a week later.
The sides represent two of South Australia’s key international tourism markets. The United Kingdom is currently the State’s largest international market for visitation, with 58,000 visitors to South Australia in the year to December 2024 – contributing $116 million to the visitor economy - while New Zealand contributes $82 million annually.
Fans will enjoy a four-day rugby festival, including a golf day with Wallabies and Lions legends at Kooyonga, a business networking event, darts tournament featuring Simon ‘The Wizard’ Whitlock, and a free outdoor live site at the Adelaide Convention Centre for rugby fans to experience all the colour and fun of the clash.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said the historic match would feature stars from six different Test nations in the one clash.
"It has been 12 years since Australia last hosted the Lions and the sense of excitement and anticipation from British and Irish fans as well as those here at home is at all-time high levels," Mr Waugh said.
"The game will be celebrated with a week of events across Adelaide that will stir the passion and heighten the excitement of the tens of thousands of fans from Britain, Ireland and Australia who will be in Adelaide for the week."
The British & Irish Lions match at Adelaide Oval adds to South Australia’s blockbuster major events, which will see visitors also experience the innovative winter festival, Illuminate Adelaide.
For tickets visit The British & Irish Lions Tour.
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