Photo via BBC Sport

One year until first women's Lions Test - will it be a success?

With twelve months remaining before the inaugural women's British and Irish Lions Test series in New Zealand, head coach Yapp is prioritizing the assembly of her coaching staff. Contenders being mooted for backroom roles include Rachel Taylor, Sarah Hunter, Emily Scarratt, Giselle Mather, and Susie Appleby, with early decisions necessary to avoid disrupting national setups ahead of the 2027 Women's Six Nations.

The touring roster, potentially matching the 38-player size of the 2025 men's squad, will be revealed in May following the Six Nations, with England's Meg Jones viewed as the top contender for the captaincy. A warm-up match on British soil remains planned though unfinalized, while organizers project over 124,000 attendees across the tour, offering tour packages running between £1,595 and £14,495 before standard ticket sales open at month's end.

Concerns persist regarding local enthusiasm in New Zealand, where typical Black Ferns crowds have hovered between 6,000 and 10,000 amid faded post-2022 World Cup momentum and looming competition from the men's World Cup in Australia. However, there are encouraging signals, notably the fully professional Super Rugby Aupiki season and a turnout of 11,793 fans at Christchurch's new One NZ Stadium—the designated venue for the third Test—during a June clash between Matatu and Chiefs Manawa.