All you need to know about Lions v Argentina
The British and Irish Lions kick off their 2025 tour against Argentina in Dublin on Friday.It will be the first match the Lions have played in Ireland and one of six warm-up games they will play ahead of the three-match Test against Australia.After the game against the Pumas, the Lions will fly to Perth and meet Western Force on 28 June with the first Test against Australia taking place in Brisbane on 19 July.From Argentina's form, to team news and how to follow the game on BBC Sport - here's all you need to know.
When is Lions v Argentina?
The Lions face Argentina on Friday 20 June, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin with kick-off set for 20:00 BST.
How can I follow the game on BBC Sport?
You can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up starting from 19:00 BST. There will also be plenty of reaction and analysis. Make sure to follow BBC Sport's dedicated British and Irish Lions page.The game is being shown live on Sky Sports, S4C and TG4.
Argentina's recent form
Argentina are ranked fifth in the world and took three wins from their six matches in last year's Rugby Championship.They have beaten three of the four teams above them in the past 12 months.Ireland, the only higher-ranked team to avoid recent defeat against Argentina, were pushed all the way in November in their most recent visit to Dublin's Aviva Stadium, as they dug out a 22-19 win. Argentina were beaten 37-23 by France in their last outing which also took place in November.After the game in Dublin, Argentina will face England in Two test games in La Plata on 5 July and San Juan on 12 July.
Team news
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu and Ireland's Bundee Aki will form the centre partnership for the Lions.Glasgow's Tuipulotu, who missed the Six Nations through injury, will be playing his first international rugby since Scotland's win over Australia in November and will pair up with Aki - despite both players appearing to be more natural inside centres.Head coach Andy Farrell is still without the majority of those who featured in domestic finals last week, with Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher - who is named on the bench - the only player to feature for their club side who will be on show at the Aviva.Tour captain Maro Itoje will lead the side for the first time while 14 of the 23-man squad will be representing the Lions for the first time.For Argentina, hooker Julian Montoya will captain the Pumas, six days after losing the Premiership final with Leicester.Santiago Carreras, who will move to Bath from Gloucester this summer, is at full-back with Tomas Albornoz at fly-half.Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez is part of a back row completed by the experienced Pablo Matera and Perpignan number eight Joaquin Oviedo.The Pumas are without several of their France-based players with Toulouse's versatile back Juan Cruz Mallia and Bordeaux-Begles second row Guido Petti involved in the Top 14 play-offs.Prop Thomas Gallo is also absent.
Line-ups
British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl.Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen.Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (c), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin OviedoReplacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquin Moro, Simon Benitez Cruz, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero
The view from both camps
Lions head coach Andy Farrell: "You can tell with the excitement around the group, it shows what it means to them, we have seen it in how diligent they have been and how quickly they have come together as a group and the bond they have in such a short space of time."It is great to see, but it is best foot forward and all about the performance on Friday night because that is how we are all going to get judged, we want to do the shirt proud and represent the group properly."Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi: "We haven't been together for seven months and now getting together with lots of new faces it has been a challenge, but the guys have been magnificent."They are training with a lot of intensity, we are very pleased with how they adapted."We expect the best of the best from the British Isles, we know all their players and we expect them to be playing hard."
Lions fixtures in full
Friday, 20 June - Lions v Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium)Saturday, 28 June - Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium)Wednesday, 2 July - Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)Saturday, 5 July - Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium)Wednesday, 9 July - Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium)Saturday, 12 July - Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)Saturday, 19 July - Lions v Australia, first Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)Tuesday, 22 July - Lions v First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)Saturday, 26 July - Lions v Australia, second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG)Saturday, 2 August - Lions v Australia, third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium)All matches kick off at 11:00 BST apart from the game in Dublin which starts at 20:00 BST
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