Canterbury unveils new British and Irish Lions jersey

Heritage rugby brand Canterbury of New Zealand has unveiled the new British and Irish Lions jersey.

The jersey has an updated design in a deeper shade of red and with the classic jacquard pattern woven into the fabric, paying homage to the four unions that unite to form the team - England’s rose, Scotland’s thistle, Ireland’s shamrock, and Wales’ feathers come together.

The jersey features a grandad collar in direct response to online feedback from Lions fans during the brand’s trends and insights analysis.

Former British and Irish Lions captain, Sam Warburton, was brought in to consult on the design and advise on player requirements alongside highly covert on-field testing for durability and performance.

The kit’s first outing by The British and Irish Lions will be in Dublin, as Andy Farrell's side play a historic match against Argentina at Aviva Stadium on Friday, June 20th before departing for Australia.

The first test will begin on Saturday, July 19th, at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the second test on Saturday, July 26th.

Photo: Inpho/Dan Sheridan

The final test will be played in front of over 80,000 fans at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, August 2nd.

In preparation for the first test, the Lions will face an invitational Australian and New Zealand team at the Adelaide Oval, while the Tour will also include pre-test fixtures in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.

British and Irish Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, said: "We’re incredibly proud and excited to unveil the new Lions jersey today alongside Canterbury, who have been a fantastic partner to The British and Irish Lions for many years dating back to the 1959 Tour of New Zealand.

"This will be the third Tour in a row for us to partner with them and the 2025 jersey launch represents another key milestone as we continue to build towards Australia.

"The famous red jersey is a crucial part of the Lions DNA, and I have no doubt that the players and our supporters all around the world will enjoy wearing this jersey as well as the wider Lions lifestyle apparel.

"Our amazing fans are a core part of what makes a great Lions Tour, they were dearly missed in South Africa in 2021, but we will now be more connected with them than ever before thanks to this innovative new design and exciting digital experience.

"We look forward to seeing this jersey form the iconic Sea of Red next year across Australia, in Dublin, and in homes and clubs all over the UK and Ireland."

2025 British and Irish Lions Tour Head Coach, Andy Farrell, said: "Excitement is really starting to build for next year and this jersey launch is only going to add to it. That goes for me, all rugby fans, and all those who are playing for places on that touring squad.

"I know how special the Lions jersey is to the players who are lucky enough to put it on and add to the years of history and prestige which it carries.

"It also holds a special place for the Lions fans around the world who can connect with us and be a part of our team by supporting us in that same red jersey. I’m sure they are going to love this new design and I look forward to witnessing the power of the Sea of Red in Australia once again."