Celebrating the countdown to the first-ever Howden British & Irish Lions Women's Series in New Zealand, 2027
London Stock Exchange was pleased to welcome The British & Irish Lions and New Zealand Rugby for a special event marking the countdown to the inaugural Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series in New Zealand in 2027.
In less than 12 months’ time, the first ever British & Irish Lions Women’s team will tour New Zealand, bringing together leading players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to face one of the most iconic teams in rugby, the Black Ferns, in a three-Test Series across New Zealand.
The 2027 Series marks the beginning of a new era for The British & Irish Lions. For more than a century, the Lions have brought together rivals from the four Home Unions to compete against the world’s best, creating some of rugby’s most memorable sporting moments. The Lions Women and the Black Ferns will undoubtedly create defining moments, new heroes and a legacy that extends well beyond 2027.
More broadly, the Series reflects the momentum behind women’s rugby and the growing profile of the women’s game. It is a landmark moment for the Lions, but also part of a wider shift in the sport — one that is creating new role models, attracting new audiences and helping shape the future of rugby.
Fresh from facing the Red Roses at Twickenham two days earlier, members of the Black Ferns joined the event alongside Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen and Lions Women’s Head Coach Jo Yapp. Together, they shared their perspectives on what lies ahead in 2027, what the inaugural Series means for both teams, and the continued growth and evolution of women’s rugby.
With less than a year to go, the countdown is now firmly underway to a Series that promises to make history – for the Lions, the Black Ferns and rugby.
