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Where to watch Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions live stream, TV channel, start time for rugby match

Saino Zachariah

Where to watch Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions live stream, TV channel, start time for rugby match image

The British and Irish Lions, under Andy Farrell, will begin their 2025 tour of Australia with their first game against the Super Rugby Pacific team Western Force, who are based in Perth.

The Lions had a disappointing outing in their opening game of the year, losing 24-28 to Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, leaving them with zero wins on British soil since 1891.

Meanwhile, the Force had a poor Super Rugby season in 2025, finishing ninth on the ladder, with just four wins in their 14 games. 

The two sides have previously faced off in a match during the 2013 tour, where the Lions inflicted a heavy 69-17 defeat on the Force. The British return to Perth once again, hoping to repeat the same thrashing that they handed out to the Force in front of their home supporters 12 years ago.

The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match and kickoff time.

Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch the Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions in the U.K.:

  • TV channel: BBC One, S4C
  • Live stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC sports website

Fans in the United Kingdom can catch the action from Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions Rugby clash live on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. GMT. Those looking to stream the match can do so via BBC iPlayer.

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What time does Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions kick off?

The Western Force vs. British & Irish Lions Rugby clash takes place at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia and kicks off on Saturday, Jun. 28 at 11:00 a.m. BST.

2025 British & Irish Lions schedule

All times BST

Friday, June 20

British and Irish Lions 24 def. by Argentina 28 (8:00 p.m.)

Saturday, June 28

Western Force v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Wednesday, July 2

Queensland Reds v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Saturday, July 5

NSW Waratahs v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Wednesday, July 9

ACT Brumbies v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Saturday, July 12

Invitational Australia and New Zealand v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Saturday, July 19

Australia v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Tuesday, July 22

First Nations and Pasifika XV v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Saturday, July 26

Australia v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Saturday, August 2

Australia v British and Irish Lions (11:00 a.m.)

Saino Zachariah

Saino Zachariah is a content producer at The Sporting News, with a focus on cricket, AFL, NRL, and Indian sports.

His work has appeared in publications such as The Mirror UK & US, Irish Star, and Express where he has covered MLB, football, tennis, and basketball. 

Starting his journey through fantasy sports, he developed a keen eye for numbers and trends shaping the game's narrative. Despite a background in science, he draws inspiration from art, film, and history.