South Australia will be the centre of the rugby union world in July as Rugby Australia announces a four-day festival of events in Adelaide highlighted by the eagerly-anticipated AUNZ Invitational XV clash with the British and Irish Lions at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, July 12.
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 Adelaide Oval showdown will be the Lions’ final hit-out before their three Test series against the Wallabies.
An estimated 40,000 travelling fans from across Britain and Ireland will join the masses of Australian Rugby fans for an unforgettable week in Adelaide, which will feature an official golf day with Wallabies and Lions legends, live sites and a darts tournament featuring Australian legend Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said:
"From world-class rugby to darts, golf and vibrant live sites, Adelaide will experience the best of our great global game in July. 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.
"The highlight of the week in Adelaide will undoubtedly be the historic AUNZ XV Invitational XV match against the Lions at the Adelaide Oval on July 12, which will feature stars from six different Test nations in the one clash.
"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."
South Australia Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said:
"This will be the first time the British & Irish Lions have visited South Australia since 1888, 137 years ago. With one month to go, hotel forward bookings in the city are more than double the same time last year and we expect our restaurants, pubs and cafes to be packed with fans from all over Australia and the world.
"An anticipated 52,000 people are expected to sell out Adelaide Oval. With the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as New Zealand and Australia, hitting the pitch, the British & Irish Lions match is set to help drive visitation from some of the State’s key international markets.
"The last Australian Tour by the Lions in 2013 attracted an estimated 30-40,000 British and Irish supporters, generating an estimated $150 million for the Australian economy. We are all looking forward to seeing a sea of red and gold throughout the city for the historic clash in July."
Join legends from the Wallabies and Lions for 18 unforgettable holes at the exclusive Kooyonga Golf Club, a championship course set in undulating sand hills just 15 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD and the host of six Australian Opens.
Rugby Australia President and former Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe will be joined by Stirling Mortlock, Morgan Turinui and other luminaries from Wallabies and Lions folklore for a round of golf and a drink in the modern clubhouse, which features sweeping, panoramic views over the course.
When: From Midday, Thursday, July 10
Where: Kooyonga Golf Club
Leaders from across South Australia's business and government sectors will connect, collaborate and engage through their shared passion for rugby at an exclusive Rugby Business Network dinner at stunning SOL Rooftop.
Guests will hear from key figures representing Rugby Australia, the British & Irish Lions and the AUNZ Invitational XV as RA’s corporate partners and executives from UK business sector gather with local South Australian leaders.
When: From 7pm, Thursday, July 10
Where: SOL Rooftop, Level 9 SkyCity
Enquiries: adam.fulepp@rugby.com.au
Join the British & Irish Lions and South Australia Rugby for an exclusive two-course lunch, featuring exciting guest speakers and top-tier entertainment.
When: From 12pm, Friday, July 11
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre
Experience the excitement, atmosphere and heritage of the first Lions tour to Australia in 12 years at The Paddock – a free, outdoor live site at ‘Home Ground’ on the Riverbank Promenade.
Created as a central hub for Wallabies and visiting Lions supporters, The Paddock will offer an immersive, pre-game experience for rugby fans featuring food and drinks, live music and exclusive Q&A sessions with past and present players.
When: From 3pm Friday, July 11 and 2pm Saturday, July 12
Where: Home Ground, Riverbank Promenade (Adelaide Convention Centre)
The first combined Australia and New Zealand side in 36 years will take the field against an all-star Lions line-up on one of Australian sport’s grandest stages – the Adelaide Oval. The AUNZ Invitational XV match will be a highlight of the global rugby calendar and feature top talent from Australia and New Zealand under the guidance of a world-class coaching staff in Les Kiss, Ian Foster, Simon Cron and Zane Hilton. The match is the Lions’ final hit-out before their epic three Test series against the Wallabies.
Where: Adelaide Oval
When: 7:15pm Saturday, July 12
Fulltime might have blown on the rugby but the rivalry continues on Sunday when Australian legend Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock headlines a one-of-a-kind darts showdown between celebrities from Australia and the UK.
Fans from both sides of the world can be part of the action when Whitlock and fellow darts professionals David Platt, Peter Machin and Aaron Morrison battle it out alongside rugby legends including Matt Giteau and Justin Harrison at the Hindley Street Music Hall.
Where: Hindley Street Music Hall
When: From 1.30pm Sunday, July 13
