Irish Lions Consider Las Vegas for 2029 Warm-Up Game

Irish Lions and British are considering a warm-up match in Las Vegas ahead of their 2029 tour to New Zealand, potentially marking a milestone for rugby in the United States. The Lions are exploring several U.S. cities for a Stateside match as part of their effort to innovate around their travel itinerary. A stop in the U.S. would break up the long journey to New Zealand, the farthest of their three touring destinations.

It would also provide a commercial opportunity, building excitement around rugby in the U.S. as the country prepares to host the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups. This idea comes as the Lions are already planning their next tour in 2025 when they will visit Australia. In contrast to their 2017 New Zealand tour where jet lag hampered their performance in a 13-7 win against a Provincial Barbarians side, the U.S. stop would help mitigate fatigue.

The Irish Lions had previously visited Hong Kong in 2013 during their Australian tour to face the Barbarians, tying the stop with the location of their main sponsor’s headquarters. Las Vegas has recently expanded its sports hosting credentials, with events like the NFL’s Super Bowl, Formula 1 Grand Prix and NBA’s In-Season tournament.

The city will also hold a rugby event in March 2024, featuring matches like Wigan v Warrington and a women’s rugby league clash between England and Australia. A warm-up match in Las Vegas for the Lions in 2029 could spark interest in rugby in the U.S. ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.

Additionally, New Zealand and Ireland are set to meet in Chicago in 2025 while the 2030 Rugby Nations Championship could further increase rugby’s presence in North America.