England's summer series is shaping up to be an exciting one, with four matches lined up.
Competition: Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
It all kicks off with an uncapped home match against France, which will see both teams play under the banners of England XV and France XV. As a result, this match won't be counted for World Rankings or capped.
Where and When?
The first showdown takes place at the iconic Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday, June 21—just two weeks before England heads off for their first away test against Argentina.
The Argentina Tour
England will then head across the globe for their two-test series against Los Pumas, with games scheduled in La Plata on July 5 and San Juan on July 12. Following that, England will make their way to Washington, D.C., for a final test match against the USA, marking the third of their July fixtures.
Missing Stars
As expected, a number of big names will be absent, thanks to the British & Irish Lions tour. But that doesn't mean England won't be fielding some serious talent.
England summer fixtures:
England XV vs. France XV (Warm-Up Match):
- Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London
- Kick-Off Time: 3:15 PM BST
- Details: This uncapped match serves as a warm-up for England’s upcoming tour.
2. England vs. Argentina (First Test):
- Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
- Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Kick-Off Time: 8:40 PM local time (4:40 PM BST)
- Details: The first of two Test matches against Los Pumas.
3. England vs. Argentina (Second Test):
- Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
- Venue: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina
- Kick-Off Time: 8:40 PM local time (4:40 PM BST)
- Details: The second Test match in the series.
4. England vs. USA (Third Test):
- Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
- Venue: Audi Field, Washington, D.C., USA
- Kick-Off Time: 7:00 PM local time (12:00 AM BST, July 20)
- Details: The final Test match of the tour.
Potential England XV Summer Line-Up:
- Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
- Theo Dan (Saracens)
- Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) – Captain
- Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
- George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
- Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
- Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)
- Tom Willis (Saracens)
- Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
- George Ford (Sale Sharks)
- Christian Wade (Gloucester)
- Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
- Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
- Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
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Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions
Wales legend Dan Biggar has officially called time on his playing career, but not before dropping a blockbuster British & Irish Lions XV on The Rugby Pod – and his picks are bound to raise a few eyebrows.
The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton's podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there’s no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.
Here's how Biggar's team shaped up…
Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
It's an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster’s dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.
Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne
4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne
England's Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He's paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.
Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)
6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England's Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland's Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who's fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.
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