Category: 6. Sports

Rugby fans across Australia are set to score, with Liquorland confirmed as Official Supplier
of the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour and the Wallabies.

The tour kicked off on Saturday in Perth, marking the Lions’ first visit to Australia in 12
years, with matches to cover ground in eight cities and more than 40,000 international
fans expected to visit across the country.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said the Lions Tour is building into a huge national
moment and Liquorland’s sponsorship has got fans covered for game-day cheers.

“The British & Irish Lions Tour is going to be a massive event across six cities with packed
stadiums, and fans flying in from all over. There’s nothing quite like a Lions Tour, and we’re
excited to see the whole country get behind it.”

“Having Liquorland on board adds to the momentum and energy. It’s great to see them
backing the Wallabies and helping fans get in the spirit of the game particularly as the
wider support for rugby across the country continues to grow.”

Coles Liquor General Manager of Customer Loyalty Mia Horner said the team was proud
to be part of the action celebrating the world’s biggest and most in-demand rugby tour.

“We’re incredibly excited to be part of the tour and take up this once in every 12-year
opportunity. It’s a bucket-list moment for fans from abroad to join the Lions tour and we
can’t wait to welcome them down under,” she said.

“We’ve lined up a cracking offer to help international fans find their local away from home
with Liquorland and score great deals and money off their in-store shop through our
partnership with SEN.”

The British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia 2025

Western Force v British & Irish Lions at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday 28 June at Optus
Stadium, Perth

Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 2 July at Suncorp
Stadium, Brisbane

New South Wales Waratahs v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday 5 July at
Allianz Stadium, Sydney

ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday 9 July at GIO Stadium,
Canberra

AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:15pm ACST on Saturday 12 July at Adelaide
Oval, Adelaide

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp
Stadium, Brisbane

First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Tuesday 22 July at
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne
Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Wallabies v British & Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday August 2 at Accor
Stadium, Sydney

England pacer Mark Wood, who has been ruled out of the series, and former captain Mike Atherton discussed Bumrah’s situation on Monday, dissecting the pros and cons of including him in the XI for the second Test.

Earlier, selectors had confirmed that the injury-prone Bumrah would feature in only three of the five Tests on the England tour to manage his workload. Head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated the plan after the Leeds Test. However, given India’s lacklustre bowling display at Headingley — where Bumrah’s five-wicket haul was the only bright spot — the debate around his inclusion has gained momentum.

The sight had the legendary Sunil Gavaskar sending a special request to Bumrah, while Shastri warned that India could not afford to trail 0-2 in Edgbaston, making Bumrah a necessity in the XI for the second Test. Wood agreed with the former India all-rounder, but Atherton pointed out that the third Test in Lord’s will begin just three days after the conclusion of the second game.

“They cannot afford to go 2-0 down. So you want your best bowler,” Wood said on the Sky Sports podcast. “There’s no way he’s saying, ‘I’m not playing at Lord’s.’ I don’t think so. I think he’ll want to play both games. Even if, let’s just say, India win the next one, and it’s 1-1, I still think they’ll want him to make the difference, to get them ahead. I think every overseas bowler wants to get on that board, and he’ll be the same.”

Atherton added that while Manchester could be the venue where India can rest Bumrah, they have to have him in the XI for the second and third Test.

“They have got a decision to make over Bumrah, first of all, because every overseas player wants to play in a Lord’s Test. The Lord’s Test is three days after Edgbaston. In cricketing terms, he should certainly play at Edgbaston, and I’d think very carefully about Old Trafford, because that’s the kind of ground where pace and reverse swing are really important. But as you say, every cricketer wants to play at Lord’s and get on that honours board,” he said.

The former England batter concluded by backing Kuldeep Yadav in the XI, saying India could have won the series opener had he featured in the match.

“I do think they should play Kuldeep Yadav. I think had they had Kuldeep in their team, they would have won that game,” he added.

The Indian women’s team will look to continue its winning momentum when it faces England in the second of five T20Is at the Bristol County Ground on Tuesday.

The opener saw the Women in Blue thrash the host by 97 runs, courtesy of stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana’s maiden T20I century and debutant Sree Charani’s four-wicket haul.

ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd T20I – Match Details

When will the second T20I between England Women and India Women take place?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will be held on Tuesday, July 1.

Where will the second T20I between England Women and India Women be held?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will take place at the Bristol County Ground in Bristol.

At what time will the second T20I between England Women and India Women start?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will begin at 11:00 PM IST. The toss will take place at 10:30 PM IST.

Where to watch the live telecast of the second T20I between England Women and India Women in India?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will be televised live in India on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports 1 channel).

Where to watch the live stream of the second T20I between England Women and India Women in India?

The second T20I between England Women and India Women will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

Told through the voices of those who lived it – legends like David Kirk, Buck Shelford, John Kirwan, and Grant Fox – By the Balls is more than a sports story. It’s a raw, personal account of a turbulent era when rugby collided head-on with politics, and where teammates were divided by principle, protest, and national expectation.

From the controversial 1986 Cavaliers tour to the groundbreaking victory in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup against arch rivals France, the documentary uncovers the personal toll of the era’s intense political climate — from tensions on the field and public backlash off it, to deep divisions within the All Blacks camp. Kirk’s reflections on being ostracised by some teammates and Shelford’s unflinching honesty about his decision to tour South Africa offer rare insight into the emotional weight behind the game.

Loaded with unforgettable moments—from gritty match footage to candid interviews – the film paints a vivid portrait of a time when the future of New Zealand rugby, and its moral compass, hung in the balance.

By the Balls is essential viewing – not just for rugby fans, but for anyone interested in how sport can challenge, fracture, and ultimately help heal a nation.

Now streaming on NZR+. Don’t miss it.

Lyon currently has a total of 556 Test wickets to his name, which is third on the list for Australian bowlers behind fellow spinner Shane Warne (708) and former quick Glenn McGrath (563).

With two Tests remaining in the West Indies this month and the visit from England later this year still to come for the Aussies in 2025, there’s every chance Lyon overtakes McGrath quickly and closes in on Warne’s magical mark in the coming months.

But Lyon is not focused on potentially becoming Australia’s greatest wicket taker and wants to focus on winning games of Test cricket for his side.

“Warney’s a long way away,” Lyon said.

“And in my eyes, he’s the greatest to ever play the game. I’m just lucky to be part of a pretty special cricket team at the moment. We’re on our way to becoming a great cricket team, we not there (yet) as I always say. But to be part of this bowling attack and play my role is special. That’s the reason why I keep playing.”

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf.

A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer’s discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging.

Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.